Department of Health and Social Care

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Navendu Mishra: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether her Department has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of developing a cross-departmental strategy to tacklealcoholharm.

Andrea Leadsom: The Government takes a wide-ranging approach to addressing alcohol-related harms, including through taking forward the commitments set out in Advancing our health: prevention in the 2020s, to increase the availability of no- and low-alcohol alternatives, establish alcohol care teams in the 25% of acute hospitals in England with the greatest need as part of the NHS Long Term Plan, and improve the alcohol and drug treatment system through the 10-year Drug Strategy.

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Navendu Mishra: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will meet charities representing people affected by alcohol harm to inform her Department’s work on health prevention.

Andrea Leadsom: The Department meets regularly with alcohol charity representatives, at a ministerial and official level, and is content to continue to do so, to support and inform our work in tackling alcohol related health harms.

Electronic Cigarettes: Drugs

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to educate people about the use of synthetic drugs in vapes.

Andrea Leadsom: The health advice is clear, if you don’t smoke, don’t vape, and children should never vape. Vaping can play a role in helping adult smokers to quit, but the number of children using vapes has tripled in the past three years, and a staggering 20.5% of children had tried vaping in March to April 2023Drugs education is a mandatory component of the Relationships and Sex Education and Health Education curriculum taught in schools. The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities has commissioned the PSHE Association to publish teaching resources for schools on drug and alcohol use, and vaping. These resources are in the process of being updated, and there will be increased emphasis on the risks of synthetic drugs, including vapes.Information on the dangers of using THC vapes is available on FRANK, the Government’s drug information and advisory website, which signposts users to support services and provides an around the clock and free-to-use confidential helpline, text and email message services, and an online chat.Where there are incidents of synthetic cannabinoids in THC vapes, it is for the local authority public health team and the police force to take appropriate actions to warn and protect their at-risk populations, supported by regional teams.

Opioids: Health Hazards

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department has taken to help prepare for potential increases in levels of synthetic opioid-related harms.

Andrea Leadsom: We are highly alert to the emerging threat from the arrival of potent synthetic opioids in the United Kingdom. The Department is an active member of the cross-Government synthetic opioids taskforce, which was established in the Summer of 2023, to develop mitigations to the synthetic opioids threat.In July 2023, the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities issued a National Patient Safety Alert, which promoted awareness and provided clear instructions for staff in health settings across the country, to ensure they are prepared for anyone that may present with an overdose caused by synthetic opioids.We are developing an early warning system to improve drug surveillance on synthetic opioids, and are also expanding access to naloxone, a lifesaving medicine that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose, so that more professionals and services can give out take-home supplies.We are engaging on this issue internationally via the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs, and are playing an active role in the United States-convened Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats.

General Practitioners: Finance

Sir Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the cost to NHS England has been of reimbursing GP practices for providing services to (a) non-UK and (b) non-registered UK citizens in each of the last three years for which information is available.

Andrea Leadsom: General practices (GPs) are paid for providing essential services to all their patients via global sum payments, which are weighted to take patient needs into account. Therefore, there are no dedicated GP payments for providing services to non-United Kingdom or non-registered UK citizens, and the Department does not hold data on GP patient lists by nationality.

Telemedicine: Voice over Internet Protocol

Sir Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she plans to introduce legislation that will prohibit the sale of telecare devices that are incompatible with VoIP.

Helen Whately: The Government is committed to ensuring the safety of telecare users in the transition from the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) to digital phonelines. The Department has been engaging with the telecare industry to raise awareness of the PSTN migration, and to encourage telecare suppliers to offer digitally compatible telecare equipment. The Department is not currently pursuing legislative routes for prohibiting the sale of telecare devices that are incompatible with Voice over Internet Protocol.

Telemedicine: Voice over Internet Protocol

Sir Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether there are telecare devices being sold that will no longer be fully operational after the Public Switched Telephone Network is switched off.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Naloxone

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she plans to place opioid-overdose reversal Naloxone alongside existing public access defibrillators.

Andrea Leadsom: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Fentanyl and Nitazenes: Death

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many deaths involving (a) nitazenes and (b) fentanyls have been confirmed by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities in 2024 as of 25 April.

Andrea Leadsom: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Autism: Diagnosis

Caroline Nokes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much her Department spent on autism assessments in each of the last five years; how much funding her Department has allocated to autism assessments in each of the next three years; and what recent assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of that funding in meeting the target waiting time for such an assessment.

Maria Caulfield: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

National Learning Disability Board

Caroline Nokes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when the National Learning Disability Board last met.

Maria Caulfield: The final meeting of the National Learning Disability Board took place on 19 July 2016. More information is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/learning-disability-programme-board#minutes

NHS: Software

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the Patient Coalition for AI, Data and Digital Tech in Health report entitled Public and Patient Experience of the NHS app, published on 27 March 2024.

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she plans to publish a response to the Patient Coalition for AI, Data and Digital Tech in Health's report entitled Public and Patient Experience of the NHS app, published on 27 March 2024, in the context of its recommendations on retaining (a) face-to-face and (b) telephone appointments.

Andrew Stephenson: We recognise that digital skills levels are not universal, including amongst those people who need our health services the most. NHS England is therefore collaborating with local organisations and charities to include NHS App support in their outreach programmes. Alongside this, we have a priority programme to develop secure and safe ways for families and carers to access the NHS App on behalf of other people. The efficiency that the NHS App brings to frontline health services frees up staff to reach people who cannot access digital services via face-to-face and telephone appointments which will continue to be available.The Department is not planning to publish a formal response to the report, but will use the recommendations to inform ongoing work to improve the App.People can currently log in to the NHS App with their face ID or fingerprint and can be remembered on their device too. We are introducing more automated ID checks and new forms of login in the next 6 months, to make it even quicker for people to register and log in to the NHS App across a range of devices. This includes our web version that people without smartphones can access.In the short term, we are making it easier to read information in the medical record, appointment lists, test results and prescription information. NHS England is making strategic changes in how the data is sent from system suppliers which will allow it to be more clearly presented.We are updating plans to help frontline staff support their patients to use the NHS App, through training and support. This will be backed up by improvements to existing help pages and support processes and redesigning the contact form to make sure queries can be quickly resolved.NHS England will work closely with frontline staff, Patient Participation Groups and our large App Ambassador network so that they can explain the NHS App to patients. This network will be expanded so that awareness of the support offer is raised further as suggested in the report.

Medical Records: Databases

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the accessibility of electronic patient record systems for patients who do not own a mobile phone and cannot use text message verification services.

Andrew Stephenson: A phone number is required to register with the National Health Service login, used to access NHS digital services, although it is not required to log in after registration is complete. Two-step verification is a necessary security feature to ensure that only the correct individual can access an account, and that their medical information is protected.Once registered, to log in without a phone number, people can have the login remembered on their computer or tablet, or set up face or fingerprint login on their devices, provided their devices support this. They can also set up their device using passkeys, which allow use of the main login used on the device, with access to a trusted phone number required to set this up.However, NHS England recognises the two-step verification features that NHS login supports may not work for everyone. Landline support was therefore recently introduced for NHS login, that allows those without a mobile phone to register and receive security codes. The needs of those with hearing difficulties were considered, and research with deaf charities showed that most people had access to a trusted phone number that they could use. Phone numbers can also be shared between people for NHS login purposes, as a further option to allow access.

Health Services: Coronavirus

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what her timetable is for the rollout of Endo Barriers on the NHS.

Andrew Stephenson: The implantation of a duodenal–jejunal bypass liner, also known as an endo barrier, for managing type 2 diabetes, is not recommended by the NICE, and therefore not available on the National Health Service. Current evidence on the safety and efficacy of the device for managing type 2 diabetes is limited in quality and quantity. For this reason, the NICE recommends that the procedure should only be done as part of a research study. Further information on the NICE guidelines is available at the following link:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ipg518/chapter/1-RecommendationsThe NICE may update the guidance, upon publication of further evidence. The NICE recommends that people with type 2 diabetes receive eight care processes at least annually, to support them to achieve three treatment targets to prevent diabetes related complications. The care processes include checks on blood glucose and body mass index, to support weight management. Delivery of all eight care processes is associated with reduced emergency admissions, amputations, and retinopathy. NHS England commissions two national lifestyle services to support adults with type 2 diabetes to manage their weight and improve their health and wellbeing. These are the NHS Digital Weight Management Programme and the NHS Type 2 Diabetes Path to Remission Programme. The NICE guidance for the care and management for adults with type 2 diabetes is available at the following link:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng28

Colonoscopy: Greater Manchester

Navendu Mishra: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the average waiting time is to receive results from a colonoscopy in (a) Stepping Hill Hospital and (b) Greater Manchester.

Andrew Stephenson: The data requested is not currently collected by either Stockport NHS Foundation Trust Stepping Hill Hospital, or by the Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board.

Leukaemia

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to increase awareness of acute myeloid leukaemia.

Andrew Stephenson: Raising awareness and improving early diagnosis of cancer, including blood related cancers such as acute myeloid leukaemia, remains a priority for the Government. NHS England is taking steps to raise awareness of all cancers, and in January 2024, relaunched the Help Us Help You cancer awareness campaign, designed to increase earlier diagnosis of cancer by reducing barriers to seeking help, as well as increasing body awareness, and knowledge of key red flag symptoms. This campaign addresses barriers to people coming forward with suspected signs of all cancers.This relaunch follows NHS England’s initial launch of the Help Us Help You campaign in April 2020, a major public information campaign to persuade the public to seek urgent care and treatment when they need it. The Help Us Help You strategy is designed to address the underlying barriers to cancer diagnosis, including multifaceted fears, a lack of body awareness, and a lack of knowledge of cancer symptoms, to encourage people to present earlier.

Clinical Trials

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the paper entitled The Future of Clinical Research Delivery: 2022 to 2025 implementation plan, published on 30 June 2022, what progress has been made on the Find, Recruit and Follow-up service for clinical trials.

Andrew Stephenson: Since publication of the Future of Clinical Research Delivery, we have developed early versions of several products as part of the Find, Recruit and Follow-up Service, to deliver secure data enabled study feasibility and recruitment within established governance and legal requirements, across England and other parts of the United Kingdom. These products include: NHS England’s DigiTrials self-service feasibility tool, which identifies suitable locations for studies by establishing where the largest groupings of eligible people are based; NHS England’s DigiTrials recruitment service, which is currently in its second phase of pilots and will enable the National Health Service to more easily approach patients about research relevant to them; the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s Clinical Research Practice Datalink, which allows participating general practices to identify potentially eligible patients for relevant studies more easily; and the Be Part of Research registry, which allows people to proactively register their interest in participating in research. These tools have been developed to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the clinical research process, and also improve our ability to widen access to research opportunities, increase the resilience and sustainability of the healthcare system, and reduce the burden on the NHS workforce.

Autism and Learning Disability: Training

Caroline Nokes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will make an estimate of the number of health and adult social care staff that will undertake the second part of tier (a) one and (b) two of the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism in the next three years.

Maria Caulfield: We have provided estimates of the number of health and adult social care staff that would undertake Tier 1 and Tier 2 of the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training in our consultation stage impact assessment. This assessment was published as part of the public consultation on the Oliver McGowan Code of Practice. The impact assessment and wider public consultation are available, respectively, at the following two links:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/649a8c399e7a8b0013932bec/impact-assessment-oliver-mcgowan-draft-code-of-practice.pdfhttps://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/oliver-mcgowan-draft-code-of-practice/oliver-mcgowan-draft-code-of-practice-on-statutory-learning-disability-and-autism-trainingFor healthcare, we estimated that over the first three years of training roll-out, 1,036,000 staff would be trained at Tier 1 level, and 1,186,000 staff would be trained at Tier 2 level. For adult social care, over the same period, we estimated that 840,000 staff would be trained at Tier 1 level, and 492,000 staff would be trained at Tier 2 level. In addition, over 1.7 million people have already completed the first part of Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism, an e-learning package.The final stage impact assessment incorporates additional evidence on the number of staff expected to undertake training, which was provided by organisations through the public consultation. The final assessment will be published in due course.

Stepping Hill Hospital: Bowel Cancer

Navendu Mishra: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of (a) diagnosis and (b) treatment services for bowel cancer at Stepping Hill hospital.

Andrew Stephenson: No specific assessment has been made of the adequacy of diagnosis and treatment services for bowel cancer at Stepping Hill Hospital. However, data held at the provider level can give us insight into lower gastrointestinal (GI) cancer for Stockport NHS Foundation Trust. Of those patients referred to Stockport NHS Foundation Trust for suspected lower GI cancer in February 2024, 86.1% received a diagnosis or ruling out of cancer within 28 days. This is above the 75.0% standard, and shows an increase of 4.2% since January. Furthermore, of those patients referred to Stockport NHS Foundation Trust for lower GI cancer in February 2024, 95.2% received a first or subsequent treatment within 31 days of a decision to treat. This is above national performance of 91.1%, against the standard of 96.0%. For lower GI cancer in the same period, 67.4% of patients received treatment within 62 days of an urgent suspected cancer or screening referral, or consultant upgrade, to a first definitive treatment for cancer. This is above national performance of 63.9% against the standard of 85.0%.

Clinical Trials: Contracts

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the policy paper entitled Full government response to the Lord O'Shaughnessy review into commercial clinical trials, last updated on 8 December 2023, what her Department's planned timetable is for expanding the national contract value review programme to phase 1 and 2a clinical trials.

Andrew Stephenson: The National Contract Value Review (NCVR) process applies to commercial clinical studies. NHS England is working in partnership with the devolved administrations, the National Institute for Health and Care Research, and other partners, to pilot the use of the NCVR process for phase I and IIa of commercial clinical trials. The ambition is to make the use of NCVR for phase I and IIa of commercial clinical trials mainstream from October 2024.

Liver Cancer: Mortality Rates

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she has made an estimate of expected liver cancer mortality rates by the end of 2025.

Andrew Stephenson: No estimate has been made of expected liver cancer mortality rates by the end of 2025. The care of and treatment for patients with cancer, including liver cancer, is a priority for the Government. Early diagnosis of liver cancer is critical to improving rates of survival. NHS England’s Early Diagnosis of Liver Cancer Programme is contributing to the NHS Long Term Plan’s commitment to diagnose 75% of all cancers at stage one or two by 2028. This programme includes three workstreams: improving liver surveillance programmes; community liver health checks pilots; and primary care pilots. Identifying those at risk and ensuring patients are tested and referred to a surveillance programme, where necessary, will lead to improved patient outcomes.

Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency: Accountability

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency is held accountable for its decisions.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps is she taking to review the decisions of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.

Andrew Stephenson: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) performs the functions of my Rt hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, under United Kingdom legislation, relating to the regulation of medicines, medical devices, and blood products for transfusion. The MHRA also performs the functions of my Rt hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care in relation to the standardisation and control of biological medicines including vaccines, blood products, and other substances which cannot be characterised chemically, and which require special testing measures to ensure their safety and efficacy.My Rt hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has ministerial responsibility for, and oversight of, the MHRA’s delivery and performance. The MHRA seeks ministerial agreement for policy and legislative framework changes. Ministers are not involved in individual decisions made by the MHRA. The MHRA is held to account through regular established mechanisms including quarterly and annual accountability reviews. A framework agreement between the Department and the MHRA also sets out the governance structure within which both parties operate, with further information available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dh-and-mhra-framework-agreement/framework-agreement-between-dhsc-and-the-medicines-and-healthcare-products-regulatory-agencyThe MHRA also publishes performance figures each month, as well as its annual report and accounts, and the minutes of the latest Annual Accountability Review with the MHRA is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/annual-accountability-review-mhra/annual-accountability-review-minutes-2022-to-2023-3-july-2023

Learning Disability: Nurses

Caroline Nokes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many learning disability nurses there (a) are and (b) were in each of the last five years.

Caroline Nokes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion of learning disability nurses are in senior leadership roles.

Andrew Stephenson: NHS England publishes monthly Hospital and Community Health Services workforce statistics for England. These include staff working for hospital trusts and core organisations, but excludes staff working for other providers such as in primary care, general practice, or social care. This data is drawn from the Electronic Staff Record, the human resources system for the National Health Service. The statistics are available at the following link: https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/nhs-workforce-statistics A large proportion of learning disability nurses work outside NHS trusts, and we do not hold data on where they work. However, the Nursing and Midwifery Council publishes data on the number of nurses on the register across the United Kingdom, which will include nurses employed in other settings, such as education. Data is available in the Fields of Practice sheet in the permanent register data tables, at the following link:https://www.nmc.org.uk/about-us/reports-and-accounts/registration-statistics/

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Nicaragua: Human Rights and Religious Freedom

Jim Shannon: To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, whether he has made representations to his counterpart in Nicaragua on protecting (a) human rights and (b) religious freedoms (i) since the conviction of Bishop Rolando Álvarez and (ii) in the context of the treatment of Christians and Jews by President Daniel Ortega's regime.

David Rutley: We share widespread international concern about the suppression of human rights in Nicaragua. The UK has been increasingly vocal against the rising repression of the right to freedom of religion or belief for all, including Christian and Jews. Most recently, on 18 April, we released a statement marking the sixth anniversary of the brutally repressed protests in Nicaragua, highlighting continued UK concern at the ongoing situation. On 29 February, the UK also made a statement in response to the latest report by the UN Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua, in which we urged President Ortega to respect fully the human rights of all its citizens. In my [Minister Rutley's] tweet on 16 January, I welcomed the release of Bishop Álvarez and 18 other clergy from their unjust detention but condemned their expulsion from Nicaragua and the continued detention of other political and religious figures.

Developing Countries: Economic Situation

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, with reference to page 14 of the UK Science and Technology Framework, updated on 9 February 2024, what progress his Department has made on developing a UK Technology Centre of Expertise to support developing countries to transform their economies.

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, with reference to page 14 of the UK Science and Technology Framework, updated on 9 February 2024, whether his Department has developed (a) an outline and (b) a full business case for a UK Technology Centre of Expertise to support developing countries to transform their economies.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: As part of the International Technology Strategy, the Technology Centre of Expertise will provide support to lower and middle income countries to navigate the complex set of challenges presented by technological advancement. The business case has been developed and the inception phase is underway. Four pilot projects have been selected in Africa and Asia. The FCDO is in the final stages of procurement for an implementing partner for the initial phase which will include design of the programme, review of the pilot projects and mapping of the UK technology expertise ecosystem before the full programme launches in 2025.

Undocumented Migrants

Mrs Helen Grant: To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, what diplomatic steps he is taking to strengthen international co-operation to tackle illegal migration.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: We engage with partners worldwide, including through international fora such as the G7 and the UK-hosted European Political Community summit in July 2024, to improve returns processes, tackle organised immigration crime and address the root causes of irregular migration.In 2023/2024, we signed new deals with Bulgaria, Belgium, and Frontex (European border and coastguard agency), and through our close partnership with France stopped over 26,000 crossing attempts in 2023.On 17 April 2024, the UK signed an agreement with Vietnam to increase cooperation on tackling illegal migration.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Written Questions

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, when he plans to respond to Question 22306 tabled by the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne Central on 17 April 2024 for answer on 22 April.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: I responded to Question 22306 on 25/04/2024.

Gaza: Humanitarian Situation

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, what recent discussions he has had with his allied counterparts on how to tackle the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: The Foreign Secretary discussed getting aid into Gaza with G7 counterparts on 19 April and at the World Economic Forum in Riyadh on 29 April.In addition, the passing of UN Security Council Resolution 2728 on 25 March reflected international consensus behind the UK's position that we need an immediate pause in the fighting to get aid into Gaza and get hostages out, then progress towards a permanent, sustainable ceasefire.The Government has reiterated these points in recent engagements with counterparts and partners. The Foreign Secretary also made these points during his 17 April visit to Israel, where he met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Prime Minister Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Israel Katz.

Gaza: Aid Workers

Mr Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of opening a coronial inquest into the killing of three British nationals working with the World Central Kitchen by an Israeli drone strike in Gaza.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: The Prime Minister spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu on 2 April and made clear that the UK was appalled by the killing of seven World Central Kitchen aid workers, including three British Nationals, in an Israeli airstrike. The Prime Minister called for a thorough and transparent investigation into what happened. We are reviewing the initial findings of Israel's investigation of the incident.Guaranteed deconfliction for aid convoys and other humanitarian work is essential.The Government mourns the loss of these brave humanitarian workers, and our thoughts remain with their families at this time.

India: Christianity

Jim Shannon: To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, whether he has had discussions with his counterpart in India on the treatment of Christian churches and foreign missionaries in India.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: The UK Government is committed to defending Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) for all and promoting tolerance between different religious and non-religious communities, including respect for all places of worship.India is committed via its constitution to freedom of religion and belief. Where specific issues or concerns arise, we raise these with the Government of India.Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister for South Asia, discussed FoRB with the Government of India, leaders of faith groups and others during his visit to India in May 2023. The British High Commission in New Delhi and our network of Deputy High Commissions across India regularly engage with civil society and religious representatives on these issues.

Hamas: Hostage Taking

Jim Shannon: To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, what recent discussions he has had with his international counterparts on securing the release of hostages from Gaza.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: The UK Government has been working with partners across the region to secure the release of hostages, including British nationals and their families.We have been clear that the release of all the hostages is one of the vital elements for a lasting peace and the Foreign Secretary has reiterated that Hamas must send the hostages home and bring to an end the horrific ordeal of those currently being held.The UK Government continues to call for an immediate humanitarian pause now to allow for the release of hostages.

White Phosphorus

Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, whether it is his policy to oppose the use of phosphorous munitions.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: It is not UK policy to advocate for an international ban on the use of white phosphorous. White phosphorous is an obscurant with legitimate military uses, such as in smoke grenades, decoy and countermeasure equipment and signalling flares. However, as is the case with any military hardware, all parties to an armed conflict must ensure that their conduct and use of such materials complies with International Humanitarian Law.

Jimmy Lai

Catherine West: To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, whether the Minister for Asia raised the trial and detention of Jimmy Lai with (a) Chinese and (b) Hong Kong officials during her recent visit.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: The Minister for the Indo-Pacific raised Jimmy Lai's case with Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Deng Li in Beijing and in Hong Kong with Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Christopher Hui during her visit to China and Hong Kong in April. Further details are available on gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-minister-for-indo-pacifics-key-meetings-in-mainland-china-and-hong-kong-sar-april-2024.

Gaza: Humanitarian Aid

Dr Neil Hudson: To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, what steps his Department is taking to help increase humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: We have welcomed recent commitments from Israel to increase the amount of aid getting in to Gaza, including allowing the delivery of humanitarian aid through the Port of Ashdod and the Erez crossing - steps we have long urged Israel to take. We want to see Israel fulfil these commitments swiftly and in full. The Foreign Secretary discussed this with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu on 17 April.During that visit, the Foreign Secretary urged Israel to deliver on its promises of delivering more aid into Gaza through as many routes as possible by land, sea and air.The UK has announced a £9.7 million package of military and civilian support to set up a maritime aid corridor to Gaza, including the deployment of a Navy ship, and £3 million of additional funding for equipment to support UN and aid agencies at new and existing land crossings to get more aid into Gaza. The UK's contribution will include trucks, forklifts, generators, fuel stores and lighting towers.

Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement

Mary Kelly Foy: To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of efforts to encourage other countries to ratify the Biodiversity beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: The implementation and ratification of the Biodiversity beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement is the subject of active and positive discussions at international meetings, such as the Our Ocean Conference that was held in Greece on 15-17 April, the Commonwealth Ocean Ministers Meeting held in Cyprus on 18-19 April, and the upcoming High Level Ocean Action event in Costa Rica on 7-8 June. The government has also been actively engaging with other interested States and international organisations to exchange current policy thinking on BBNJ Agreement implementation and ratification. The FCDO is funding a project by the Commonwealth Secretariat to provide technical assistance to smaller Commonwealth members. The UK is aware that a substantial number of States are actively working to implement and ratify the BBNJ Agreement and encourage other States. A draft UN General Assembly Resolution (A/78/L.41) to establish a Preparatory Commission for the BBNJ Agreement will be voted on shortly. Once the Preparatory Commission is established it will prepare for the first Conference of the Parties to take place within the first year after entry into force of the Agreement (with entry into force taking place 120 days after the 60th ratification). The UK aims to ratify in time for the UN Ocean Conference in June 2025 and to play an active part in the first Conference of the Parties.

Gaza: Casualties

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, whether he has had recent discussions with his Israeli counterpart on injuries received by (a) children and (b) civilian men of working age in Gaza hit by Israeli drone fire.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: The British Government has underlined the need for Israel to ensure effective deconfliction in Gaza. We want to see Israel take greater care to limit its operations to military targets, avoid harming civilians, in particular children, and destroying homes. Too many civilians have been killed.We are calling for an immediate pause to get aid in and hostages out, then progress towards a sustainable, permanent ceasefire, without a return to destruction, fighting and loss of life.The Foreign Secretary reiterated these points during his visit to Israel on 17 April, where he met Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Prime Minister Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Israel Katz.

Gaza: Drinking Water

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, whether he has had recent discussions with his Israeli counterpart on the potential merits of the resumption of the supply of fresh water in Gaza.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: The situation in Gaza is desperate. Too many Palestinian civilians have been killed and there is an urgent need to get more aid to the people of Gaza to prevent a famine. Israel has made some progress in allowing more aid into Gaza, but more needs to be done.The Foreign Secretary visited Israel on 17 April. During his visit he met with Prime Minister Netanyahu and Foreign Affairs Minister Katz and reiterated the need to maintain focus on getting more aid into Gaza and getting hostages out. He also stressed the need to see an expansion of the types of aid allowed into Gaza and the provision of electricity, water and telecommunications, to both the north and the south of Gaza.

Gaza: Humanitarian Aid

Mrs Helen Grant: To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, what steps he is taking to help increase the amount of aid getting into Gaza.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: We trebled our aid commitment in the last financial year and are doing everything we can to get more aid in as quickly as possible by land, sea and air.Israel has committed to significant steps to increase the amount of aid getting into Gaza, including allowing the delivery of humanitarian aid through the Port of Ashdod and the Erez crossing.The UK has long urged Israel to take these steps and welcomes these commitments, and we have urged Israel to deliver on implementation. The Foreign Secretary discussed this with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu on 17 April. We are resolved that the international community will work with Israel to see these vital changes fully implemented.We have announced £3 million of additional funding for equipment to support UN and aid agencies at new and existing land crossings to get more aid into Gaza. The UK's contribution will include trucks, forklifts, generators, fuel stores and lighting towers.

Gaza: Israel

Ms Anum Qaisar: To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, whether he has had discussions with his Israeli counterpart on the alleged use of artificial intelligence software in the conflict in Gaza.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: Ministers and senior officials regularly raise with their Israeli counterparts a range of issues related to the conflict.

Antimicrobials: Drug Resistance

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, what recent discussions he has had with his international counterparts on antimicrobial resistance ahead of the UN General Assembly high-level meeting on that matter.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: The Government wants an ambitious outcome at the High-Level Meeting in September – one that works for everyone, including low and middle-income countries, where the burden of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is felt most heavily. I made this point at the UK-Africa Health Summit on 18 March, and the Foreign Secretary raised AMR at the G20 Foreign Ministers meeting on 21 February.

Colombia: Politics and Government

Ian Byrne: To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, what steps he is taking to support peace and human rights in Colombia.

David Rutley: During my visit to Colombia in March, I [Minister Rutley] met with Vice Foreign Minister Coy and discussed our ongoing support for peace and stability in Colombia. Since 2016, the UK has committed £80 million towards supporting the implementation of the 2016 Peace Agreement and improving the security and the human rights situation.

Palestinians: Recognition of States

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, what recent discussions he has had with his European counterparts on the potential recognition of a Palestinian state.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: As we have made clear, recognition of a Palestinian state can’t come at the beginning of the process, but it doesn’t have to come at the end. We reiterate our commitment to making progress towards a two-state solution, in which a safe and secure Israel lives alongside a sovereign, viable Palestinian state. We must start with fixing the immediate crisis in Gaza. We are intensely engaging with international, including European and regional, partners to this end.

Indo-Pacific Region: Foreign Relations

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, what steps he is taking to strengthen partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: I, and Ministers across Government, are continually engaging with countries in the region to strengthen our partnerships in line with the Integrated Review Refresh. Our approach has achieved significant success, most recently we signed a strategic partnership roadmap with Thailand, becoming the first European country to do so.

Armed Conflict: Food Supply

Michael Shanks: To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of trends in the level of conflicts resulting from global food insecurity.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: Hunger has many causes, but conflict is a major driver and amplifier behind ten of the largest food crises in the past year. In turn, competition for resources such as land, food and water contribute to instability. Our Development White Paper sets out our vision, combining efforts in development, diplomacy and security, to both reduce food insecurity and tackle conflict.

Western Sahara: Politics and Government

Sir Peter Bottomley: To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, when he last reviewed the legal status of the conflict in Western Sahara.

David Rutley: The Minister of State for the Middle East, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon receives reports on the Western Sahara. Officials regularly meet and consult with international partners to discuss the issue of Western Sahara, including those from the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), the UN, NGOs, Civil Society Organisations, and the broader international community.

Department for Business and Trade

Department for Business and Trade: Ukraine

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, which businesses accompanied the Minister for Trade on his recent visit to Ukraine.

Greg Hands: 29 companies attended the trade mission to Kyiv. For reasons of commercial sensitivity and protecting the security interests of the companies that accompanied the minister on the trade mission, the department will not disclose the businesses that attended.

Department for Business and Trade: Ukraine

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions her Department had with the businesses that accompanied the Minister for Trade on his recent visit to Ukraine while preparing that visit.

Greg Hands: In preparation for our recent trade mission to Ukraine, the Government engaged in extensive discussions with all participating businesses. Notably, during the mission, BAE Systems successfully negotiated a contract with the UK Ministry of Defence to maintain and repair L119 Light Guns directly in Ukraine. This arrangement not only speeds up the return of these crucial assets to the frontline but also significantly bolsters Ukraine’s defence capabilities. Moreover, the department facilitated numerous discussions to help businesses align the capabilities they offer with the urgent demands of Ukraine's defence efforts, ensuring their contributions are both timely and impactful.

Department for Business and Trade: Ukraine

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether her Department plans to have further engagement with the businesses that accompanied the Minister for Trade on his visit to Ukraine in April 2024.

Greg Hands: Yes.

Department for Business and Trade: Ukraine

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what criteria her Department used to select the businesses to accompany the Minister for Trade on his recent visit to Ukraine.

Alan Mak: The selection of companies for the recent trade mission to Ukraine was carefully considered based on several key criteria. These included companies with advanced operational capabilities in the field, those with an established business presence in Ukraine or already in contract with the Government of Ukraine, and those specifically matching Ukrainian demand as outlined by the Ukrainian government.

Postal Services: Rural Areas

Keir Mather: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent discussions she has had with Ofcom on the adequacy of the provision of postal services in rural areas.

Kevin Hollinrake: Ofcom, as the independent regulator, is responsible for the provision of a universal postal service. Its regulatory framework requires Royal Mail to ensure that, for the UK as a whole, the premises of not less than 98% of users of postal services are within half a mile of a post box and, in all postcode areas, the premises of 95% of users of postal services are within 3 miles of an access point (such as a post box, a Post Office or a Customer Service Point within a Delivery Office).As part of its 2022 review of postal regulation, Ofcom considered accessibility of the service, including for rural users, and decided to maintain the existing regulations.

UK-Ukraine Infrastructure Taskforce

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, on what dates the UK-Ukraine Infrastructure Taskforce has met in 2024.

Alan Mak: The UK-Ukraine Infrastructure Taskforce meets to drive forward UK support for Ukraine’s reconstruction priorities. The Taskforce has met once this year, on the 8th April in Kyiv, where Minister Hands co-chaired the Taskforce, alongside Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov, with Minister Mak joining virtually following his recent appointment. We plan to hold further Taskforce meetings later in 2024.

Business: Ukraine

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many UK-Ukraine TechBridge tech-focussed events have been held in each year since its launch.

Alan Mak: The UK-Ukraine TechBridge initiative was announced by the Prime Minister at the London hosted Ukraine Recovery Conference in 2023 with a Memorandum of Understanding between the UK and Ukraine signed in November. Since its formal launch in January 2024,15 tech-focussed events have been held. Innovation workshops on AI, agritech and healthtech were held at the end of March to assess the most significant barriers to innovation in these sectors in Ukraine. New innovation workshops will commence from May targeting new thematic areas, including cyber security, fintech, and demining.

Business: Ukraine

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many businesses have attended a UK-Ukraine TechBridge tech-focussed event in each year since its launch.

Alan Mak: The UK-Ukraine TechBridge was formally launched in January 2024. We estimate over 200 companies have attended a UK-Ukraine TechBridge event so far this year. DBT plans to hold further TechBridge events later this year, including innovation workshops, online and in-person training and trade webinars. We welcome businesses with expertise in sectors such as agritech, health tech, AI, and demining and others to join these events and deepen their collaboration with Ukrainian counterparts.

Overseas Trade: Ukraine

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps her Department is taking to help increase trade with Ukraine.

Greg Hands: In February this year the Government agreed to extend tariff liberalisation with Ukraine for an additional five years on the vast majority of goods; the most generous tariff concessions offered by any country. In March 2023, the Government signed a Digital Trade Agreement to underpin Ukraine's transition to a digitally-led economy, and supported this with the launch in January of the UK-Ukraine TechBridge. The Government's work to remove market access barriers continues in sectors such as pharmaceuticals and public procurement. To support more businesses to engage with Ukraine, particularly on reconstruction, the Government host regular business engagement events, nationally and internationally, and published a Guide to Doing Business with Ukraine.

Trade Promotion: Public Appointments

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether her Department plans to make a recommendation to the Prime Minister to appoint a new Trade Envoy for the Caribbean.

Greg Hands: There are no plans at present to appoint a Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to the Caribbean.

Natural Gas: Mozambique

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether UK Export Finance took steps relating to the Mozambique Liquefied Natural Gas Project in response to the Palma attack of 24 March 2021.

Greg Hands: Following insurgency incidents in Cabo Delagdo in March 2021, TotalEnergies declared force majeure, suspending work on the Mozambique Liquefied Natural Gas project. That declaration remains in place. UK Export Finance is currently in talks with project sponsors regarding the latest status of the project.

Ministry of Defence

Marines

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the delivery of the Future Commando Force.

Leo Docherty: Commando Forces are deployed globally today, delivering disproportionate impact for a formation of their size, in the High North, Eastern Mediterranean and India-Asia Pacific regions as well as supporting rapid operational feedback and validating lessons from Ukraine. The Department continually assesses resourcing of all operational capabilities. The Commando Force has delivered significant capability improvements at pace which have already been deployed on operations, with spiral development of key capabilities to retain their operational advantage going forward. The Commando Force Programme is delivering a transformational change to amphibious operations through two investment increments over the next ten-years that offer political choice at competition, crisis and conflict levels.

Military Aid: Human Rights

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what criteria he uses to assess the human rights compliance of foreign military units before they are eligible to receive military aid; and how frequently those assessments are reviewed.

Leo Docherty: All proposals to gift controlled military equipment and dual-use equipment are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria, in the same way as commercial export licence applications and with the same degree of rigour. Assessments are conducted at the time a proposal is submitted and may be reviewed for subsequent proposals.The Ministry of Defence (MOD) manages the assessment process and seeks advice on gifting proposals from advisers in the MOD and the FCDO, with the latter being responsible for assessment of human rights compliance under Criterion Two of the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria.

Armed Forces: Defence Equipment

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the correction notice published on 19 April 2024 in relation to his Department's 2022-23 annual report, what are the top five categories of supplies and spares in the armed forces' inventories where his Department has identified discrepancies between the originally published totals of 740 million items of more than 640,000 different types and the revised totals of 457 million items of more than 517,000 different types.

James Cartlidge: The top five categories of supplies and spares in the armed forces' inventories amounting to the total of 457 million items and 517,000 different types are as follows:.2022-23 Type (NSN's)2022-23 ItemsGWMB [Guided Weapons Missiles & Bombs] , Strat Weapons, Munitions & Armament Stores (Inc Bullets, Mortars, Flares, Explosives, Paveway & Supporting Equipment)53,000382 millionEngineering and Technical (Capability Specific Spares & Parts - Engines, Gearboxes)408,00044 millionGeneral Stores (Tools, Packaging and Non-Capability Specific Parts)31,00013 millionClothing and Textiles17,00014 millionMedical and Veterinary Stores8,0004 millionTotal517,000457 million

Norway: Type 26 Frigates

Mr Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent progress his Department has made on negotiations with Norway for the potential sale of Type 26 frigates to the Norwegian Navy.

James Cartlidge: His Majesty's Government and the Royal Navy are working jointly with BAE Systems on options to support Norway's future Frigate Programme.We are actively supporting the promotion of the Type 26 Global Combat Ship design to other navies around the world with a similar requirement.

Chinook Helicopters: Procurement

Mr Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the unit cost is of each of the new CH-47ER helicopters recently ordered by his Department from Boeing.

James Cartlidge: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave the right hon. Member for Wentworth and Dearne (Mr John Healey) on 2 April 2024 to Question 19779.

Armed Forces: Defence Equipment

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the correction notices published on 19 April 2024 in relation to his Department's annual reports from 2018-19 to 2022-23, what accounts for the inaccurate estimates of the armed forces' inventories of supplies and spares published in the original copies of those reports; and whether the equivalent estimates in his Department's annual reports for years prior to 2018-19 remain accurate.

James Cartlidge: This was an unfortunate administrative error, however the note to the accounts on volumes of inventory is essentially narrative and is not audited. The financial values of the stock that we hold are audited and the Department is confident in their accuracy in each set of accounts. Reporting responsibility for the quantities of inventory within the Department and included within the notes to the accounts changed in financial year 2017-18, therefore data prior to this time is unavailable. We have no reason to believe that the data was inaccurate prior to this point but are unable to confirm this.

Ministry of Defence: Procurement

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the average length of time is between his Department sending an Invitation To Negotiate and a procurement contract coming into effect.

James Cartlidge: The average days between 'Awarding Date' and 'Publication Date' for Invitation to Tender (ITT) /Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) on the Defence Sourcing Portal (DSP) is 149 Days.

Military Aircraft: Procurement

Mr Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the total contract value is of the (a) AH-64E Apache, (b) P-B Poseidon, (c) E-7 Wedgetail and (d) CH-4&ER contracts between his Department and Boeing.

James Cartlidge: Total Contract ValueAH-64E Apache£341,199,072.50P-8A Poseidon£241,051,711.00E-7 Wedgetail£1,706,096,617.86CH-47ERN/A Notes:CH-47ER: The final costs will be subject to the conclusion of negotiations with the US Government and Boeing, and variance throughout the life of the programme in common with all FMS cases.

Navy: Swimming Pools

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many swimming pools have been maintained by the (a) Royal Navy and (b) Royal Marines in each year since 2010.

James Cartlidge: The Royal Navy maintains three swimming pools across its estate under the Future Maritime Support Programme. The remainder of the swimming pools across the Naval estate are maintained by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation.

Ministry of Defence: Small Businesses

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much and what proportion of his Department's spending was with SMEs in each year since 2010.

James Cartlidge: The methodology used to calculate Government Departments’ spend with SMEs changed with effect from financial year (FY) 2013-14 to include sub-contracted spend. Since then the Cabinet Office has published all Departments’ direct and indirect spend with SMEs annually on the gov.uk website at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/central-government-spend-with-smes Data from 2010-2013, which only covers direct spend that the MOD had with SMEs, is set out in the table below: FYTotal Spend with SMEs Proportion of MOD spending2010-11£0.69 billion3%2011-12£1 billion5%2012-13£1 billion5%

Ministry of Defence: Small Businesses

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the implementation of The Defence Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Action Plan.

James Cartlidge: The Defence Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) Action Plan was published in 2022. It was developed in consultation with the defence SME community and reflects the priorities that they identified. We are now beginning work on the next iteration of the MOD’s Action Plan and as part of the consultation process we are seeking feedback from SMEs on the implementation of the current plan.

AUKUS

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether any countries other than Japan have expressed an interest in joining the AUKUS partnership.

James Cartlidge: We remain in close communication with our allies and partners across the full breadth of our defence and security relationships, including discussion of AUKUS Pillar Two. AUKUS partners will begin consultations this year with prospective collaborators, including Japan, to explore areas where they potentially could contribute to, and benefit from, individual Pillar Two projects. Pillar One, to deliver conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines (SSNs) to Australia, is not open to other countries.

AUKUS

Giles Watling: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether any other countries are being considered as potential partners for Pillar II of the AUKUS agreement.

James Cartlidge: AUKUS partners have announced we are ready to begin consultations in 2024 with prospective collaborators regarding areas where they can contribute to, and benefit from, Pillar Two work.

Helicopters: Military Aircraft

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to Defence Equipment and Support's article entitled £122m contract sees UK’s fleet of Airbus H145s expanded with six procured for overseas duties, published on 18 April 2024, whether that contract includes through-life support costs.

James Cartlidge: The £122 million contract with Airbus Helicopters UK for six Airbus H145 helicopters to provide aviation support to Defence outputs in Brunei and Cyprus encompasses the procurement of the aircraft, an initial three-year support plan, and includes the expenses required to establish the capability in each overseas location.Support beyond the first three years is subject to a separate project which will include determining the nature of the procurement strategy for the future support solution.

Helicopters: Military Aircraft

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to Defence Equipment & Support's article entitled £122m contract sees UK’s fleet of Airbus H145s expanded with six procured for overseas duties, published on 18 April 2024, whether the purchase of those Airbus H145s affects the number of helicopters to be purchased under the New Medium Helicopter programme.

James Cartlidge: Whilst a decision was taken to treat the Brunei and Cyprus Rotary Wing Support requirement as separate to the other requirements to be met with the New Medium Helicopter (NMH), there has been no other change to the NMH scope as advertised in the Contract Notice. The NMH competition needs to conclude before NMH aircraft numbers and delivery dates can be confirmed.

Ministry of Defence: Written Questions

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the holding Answer of 26 February 2024 to Question 15019 on Warrior Vehicles, when he plans to provide a substantive response to the Rt hon. Member for Garston and Halewood.

James Cartlidge: I responded to the right hon. Member on 23 April 2024 and a copy of my letter was placed in the Library of the House.

Multi-role Ocean Surveillance Ships: Procurement

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department plans to purchase a second Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance vessel.

James Cartlidge: The Second Multi-role Ocean Surveillance Vessel is still in the concept phase. A programme and procurement strategy will be established once this has been completed.

Antitank Missiles: Procurement

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has taken delivery of new Javelin Lightweight Command Launch Units ordered in 2022.

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he expects his Department to take delivery of new Javelin missiles.

James Cartlidge: The Ministry of Defence has yet to take delivery of the Lightweight Command Launch Units for Javelin. Initial deliveries are expected in 2026. Javelin F-model missiles, to replenish stocks Granted in Kind to Ukraine, are scheduled to be delivered in two batches; in 2027 and 2028.

Ministry of Defence: Investment

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the membership is of his Department's investment approvals committee.

James Cartlidge: The Investment Approvals Committee (IAC) is chaired by the Department’s Permanent Secretary but this role is normally delegated to Director General Finance, who is a member in their own right. The other members of the Committee are: Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (Military Capability), Director General Commercial, Chief Scientific Advisor, Chief Information Officer, Director General Industry, Trade and Economic Security, and for in-committee cases only, one of the Department's Non-Executive Directors is engaged, as well as a Non-Executive Director drawn from the wider Senior Civil Service. Membership of the IAC is reviewed annually.

AWACS: Procurement

Mr Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the first E-7 Wedgetail aircraft is expected to achieve initial operating capability within the Royal Air Force.

James Cartlidge: His Majesty's Government and the Royal Navy are working jointly with BAE Systems on options to support Norway's future Frigate Programme.We are actively supporting the promotion of the Type 26 Global Combat Ship design to other navies around the world with a similar requirement.

HMS Somerset: Repairs and Maintenance

Mr Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent estimate he has made of when HMS Somerset will (a) complete her ongoing refit and (b) return to operational duty.

Mr Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost of refitting HMS Somerset was; who undertook the retrofitting work; and when the refit was (a) started and (b) completed.

James Cartlidge: HMS Somerset is not in refit; the ship is currently undertaking a period of planned survey and defect repair work. The Ministry of Defence does not disclose future programmes or forward-looking availability forecasts in order to preserve the operational security of the Royal Navy's Fleet. In response to details about the cost and location of HMS Somerset's last refit, I refer the right hon. Member to the answers I gave to you and the right hon. Member for North Durham (Kevan Jones) on 20 July 2023 to Questions 194161 and 194356.Type 23 Frigates (docx, 17.5KB)HMS Somerset Repairs and Maintenance  (docx, 14.6KB)

A400M Aircraft: Procurement

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent progress has been made on the A400M project.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent progress has been made on the Armour Main Battle Tank programme.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent progress has been made on the Armoured Calvary Programme.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent progress has been made on the Defence Estate Optimisation programme.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent progress has been made on the Brimstone 3 project.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent progress has been made on the Chinook Capability Sustainment programme.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent progress has been made on the Collective Training Transformation programme.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent progress has been made on the Future Cruise Anti Ship Weapon programme.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent progress has been made on the Land Environment Tactical Communication and Information Systems programme.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent progress has been made on the land Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance programme.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent progress has been made on the Lightning programme.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress his Department has made on the Maritime Electronic Warfare programme.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress his Department has made on the MARSHALL project.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress his Department has made on the Martlet programme.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress he has made on the Mechanised Infantry programme.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress he has made on the Meteor project.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress he has made on the Naval Support Integrated Global Network Project.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress he has made on the New Medium Helicopter programme.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress he has made on the New Style of Information Technology Deployed programme.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress he has made on the Next Generation (Fixed) Communication Network programme.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress he has made on the PROTECTOR programme.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress he has made on the Sea Venom project.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress he has made on the Skynet 6 programme.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress he has made on the SPEAR Cap 3 programme.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress he has made on the Submarine Dismantling project.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress has been made on the Submarine Waterfront Infrastructure Future Project.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress has been made on the TEUTATES facility.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress has been made on the Type 26 Global Combat Ship Programme.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress has been made on the Type 31 Programme.

James Cartlidge: Information on performance of defence programmes in the Government Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP) is published each year alongside the Infrastructure and Projects Authority annual report. Programme performance information as at 31 March 2024 is expected to be released in July 2024.

Army Foundation College

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Army Foundation College is required to inform its independent advisory panel in the event of an allegation of staff misconduct concerning recruits.

Dr Andrew Murrison: The Army Foundation College (Harrogate) regularly brief the Independent Advisory Panel on any allegations of permanent staff misconduct towards Junior Soldiers.

Army Foundation College: Inspections

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether Ofsted inspectors are given access to the record of complaints held on the Joint Personnel Administration system relating to violent behaviour by staff at the Army Foundation College.

Dr Andrew Murrison: Ofsted were given access to all disciplinary complaints against Permanent Staff at the Army Foundation College (Harrogate).

Royal Fleet Auxiliary: Staff

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) officers and (b) ratings were employed by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary in each year since 2010.

Dr Andrew Murrison: Below are the requested figures of RFA personnel from 2010, broken down into Total Number, Officer and Rating figures.  Table 1. Royal Fleet Auxiliary Total Strength by Officer and Rating, as at 1 January 2010 to 1 January 2024 DateTotalOfficersRatings01 / 01 / 20102315813150201 / 01 / 20112314787152701 / 01 / 20121959697126201 / 01 / 20131887667122001 / 01 / 20141821640118101 / 01 / 20151850662118801 / 01 / 20161923731119201 / 01 / 20171938726121201 / 01 / 20181916711120501 / 01 / 20191887685120201 / 01 / 20201826646118001 / 01 / 20211828657117101 / 01 / 20221782656112601 / 01 / 20231736637109901 / 01 / 202416696231046 Figures pre-2015 have been included, but this legacy data was obtained through a different data source and via a different system to the one currently used by Navy Analysis. As such, caution should be exercised when comparing figures from these respective periods as they may not be directly comparable.

Navy: Staff

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the average amount of time is that an (a) officer and (b) rating serves in the Royal Navy.

Dr Andrew Murrison: Making the Royal Navy (RN) an attractive and rewarding employer remains of paramount importance. Promoting retention efforts to extend the length of service of our sailors enables the RN to retain its skilled personnel, whose experience, and tradecraft are essential to the organisation. The table below provides the average length of service on exit by trained RN Personnel (including Royal Marines) between 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2023.  RankMeanMedianRating12 years 2 months8 years 7 monthsOfficer21 years 0 months20 years 3 months Average length of service has been calculated by the length of current service, against the difference between the sailor’s joining and exit dates.

Army Foundation College: Inspections

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the Army Foundation College is next due to be inspected by Ofsted.

Dr Andrew Murrison: Ofsted inspected the Army Foundation College (Harrogate) 20-21 March 2024, and the report is expected imminently. The report will be published.

Afghanistan: Refugees

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 17 April 2024 to Question 21043 on Afghanistan: Refugees, how many people (a) have been relocated and (b) are due to be relocated in the next 12 weeks under the ARAP scheme as a result of such a reassessment.

Dr Andrew Murrison: I refer the hon. Member to my answer to Question 23497. The Ministry of Defence is working hard to review ineligible decisions made against applications from the Triples and other specialist units where we hold credible evidence, and I will update the House when the review is complete.When any individual is found eligible under ARAP the Ministry of Defence works to ensure relocation occurs as quickly as possible.

Armed Forces: Officers

Mr Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish the (a) name, (b) rank upon leaving and (c) year of joining company of all former (i) Army, (ii) Royal Navy and (iii) Royal Air Force officers at one star level or above who have left the service to work for Boeing over the last five years.

Dr Andrew Murrison: We can confirm that, under Business Appointment rules, no One or Two Star military officers have reported to the Ministry of Defence that they have taken or are planning to take up a job with Boeing during the past five years. Please note that this is a voluntary process and former officers may have taken up posts without informing the Department. Three and Four Star military personnel are required to inform the Government Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA) about the first job they intend to take after leaving the Armed Forces. This information is held by ACOBA and can be requested at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/advisory-committee-on-business-appointments. The MOD started to monitor Three Star and Four Star Business Appointments from 2023-24. In the past year no officers at those grades have taken up a post with Boeing.

Department for Education

Childcare: Costs

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that the cost of childcare is affordable for single parent families.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the availability of flexible childcare for single parent families.

David Johnston: The department is providing over £4.1 billion by the 2027/28 financial year to fund 30 hours of free childcare per week (38 weeks per year) for working parents with children aged 9 months to 3 years in England. This will remove one of the biggest barriers to parents working by vastly increasing the amount of free childcare that working families can access. This is set to save working families using the full 30 funded hours up to £6,900 per year from when their child is nine months until they are five years old by September next year.Already, hundreds of thousands of children aged 3 and 4 are registered for a 30-hour place, which can save eligible working parents up to £6,000 per child per year. Expanding this entitlement will help even more eligible working parents with the cost of childcare and make a real difference to the lives of those families.To be eligible for the expanded 30 hours entitlement, as with the current 30 hours offer, parents will need to earn the equivalent of 16 hours a week at national minimum wage or living wage (£183 per week/ £9,518 per year in 2024/2025), and less than £100,000 adjusted net income per year. For families with two parents, both must be working to meet the criteria, unless one is receiving certain benefits. In a single-parent household, the single parent must meet the threshold. This offer aims to support parents to return to work or to work more hours if they wish.In addition to the expanded entitlements, the government has also taken action to support parents on Universal Credit with childcare costs upfront when they need it, rather than in arrears. The department has increased support for these parents by increasing the childcare cost maximum amounts to £950 for one child and £1630 for two children.Tax-Free Childcare remains available for working parents of children aged 0 to 11, or up to 17 for eligible disabled children. This can save parents up to £2,000 per year, or up to £4,000 for eligible children with disabilities and has the same income criteria as 30 hours free childcare.The department is committed to improving the cost, choice, and availability of childcare and government funding schemes are designed to be flexible enough to support families’ different situations.For the 2024/25 financial year, the department’s funding rates for the York local authority will be £10.30 per hour for under 2s, £7.59 per hour for the 2 year old entitlements and £5.20 per hour for 3 and 4 year olds.The government is also investing £289 million in a new wraparound childcare programme. The government’s ambition is for all parents of primary school children who need it to be able to access childcare in their local area from 8am to 6pm. Parents will still be expected to pay to access this provision, but support will be available to eligible parents through Universal Credit childcare and Tax-Free Childcare.Parents should expect to see an expansion in the availability of wraparound care from September 2024, with every parent who needs it able to access term-time wraparound childcare by September 2026. The department is also providing over £200 million a year for the continuation of the Holiday Activities and Food programme and the department is investing a transformational £560 million in youth services in England over the next 3 years. This is part of a wider package the government has provided long term, to support young people facing the greatest challenges.The department will also continue to monitor the sufficiency of childcare places across the sector. The department’s Childcare and Early Years Provider Survey shows that both the number of places available and the workforce has increased since 2022.Local authorities are responsible for ensuring that the provision of childcare is sufficient to meet the requirements of parents in their area. Where local authorities report sufficiency challenges, the department discusses what action the local authority is taking to address those issues and where needed support the local authority with any specific requirements through our childcare sufficiency support contract.The department has regular contact with each local authority in England about their sufficiency of childcare and any issues they are facing.

Question

Alexander Stafford: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to support the early learning and development of children at home.

David Johnston: The department is investing over £300 million to enable 75 local authorities to create family hubs, and to improve vital services to give every baby the best start in life, including support for parenting, perinatal mental health and parent infant relationships, and infant feeding. An additional £29 million has been made available to these local authorities to improve early language development, by supporting parents to help their children learn at home through the provision of evidence-based support with home learning.In January 2024, the department launched a national campaign ‘Little Moments Together.’ It offers free resources and advice for parents to enhance children’s language and communication development on the NHS Better Health Start for Life website at: https://www.nhs.uk/start-for-life/early-learning-development/. The department’s focus is on educating parents about brain development in the first five years of life, and the crucial role they play. The campaign encourages parents to chat, play, and read more with their children, suggesting ways to fit opportunities into their busy schedules in and around the home. The ‘Little Moments Together’ campaign can be viewed online at: https://campaignresources.dhsc.gov.uk/campaigns/better-health-start-for-life/better-health-start-for-life-home-learning-environment-2024/.In addition, the department is working with early years national voluntary and community sector partners, including the National Literacy Trust, to assist family hubs to deliver home learning support to disadvantaged and low-income families. The department has provided £4.5 million in grant funding for partners to develop resources using the ‘Little Moments Together’ campaign messaging, offer peer-led activities directly to parents, and to engage with disadvantaged groups locally on home learning through the developing family hub networks.

Business: Training

Sir David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department are taking to encourage businesses to invest in skills training.

Luke Hall: This government is committed to delivering a world-leading skills system which is employer-focused, high-quality, and fit for the future. The department’s reforms are backed with an investment of £3.8 billion over the course of this Parliament to strengthen higher and further education to help more people get good jobs, upskill and retrain throughout their lives and to improve national productivity.Over 5,000 employers have been involved in the development of nearly 700 high-quality apprenticeships to meet their industry skills needs. To support employers of all sizes offer apprenticeships, the government has increased investment in apprenticeships to over £2.7 billion in the 2024/25 financial year. This includes investing a further £60 million to meet overall increased employer demand for apprenticeships and encourage small-medium enterprises (SMEs) to take on young apprentices.From April, the department pays 100% of training costs when SMEs take on new apprentices aged 16-21. Additionally, larger employers can now transfer more of their levy funds (50% increased from 25%) to support businesses of all sizes, which will help more employers to invest in apprenticeship training.Skills Bootcamps offer free, flexible courses of up to 16 weeks, giving people the chance to build sector-specific skills with an offer of a job interview on completion. Training providers work with employers to ensure training is designed to teach the skills employers need. To date, over 1000 employers have been involved in Skills Bootcamps. Employers play a range of roles from supporting the design and delivery of the training, to recruiting learners that complete training into a job, or an apprenticeship. Employers can also use Skills Bootcamps to upskill their existing employees, subject to a 10% contribution for SMEs and 30% contribution for large employers.Institutes of Technology bring education and business closer together, creating unique collaborations between colleges, universities and industry which deliver higher-level technical education with a clear route to high skilled employment. The department has provided £300 million of capital funding for infrastructure and industry standard equipment to increase capacity to deliver level 4/5 technical skills. In addition, employer partners were encouraged to provide additional support (monetary and in kind) which for the wave 2 competition was set at 35% of value of capital expenditure.In October 2023, the department launched a new website called Skills for Careers that provides a single digital front door to information about skills training options and careers. A link to Skills for Careers can be found here: https://www.skillsforcareers.education.gov.uk/pages/skills-for-life. From Skills for Careers, users are guided through government’s skills offer from apprenticeships to Skills Bootcamps, A levels to Multiply. The website provides an overview of each option along with information about writing job applications and CVs.Across all areas of England, employer-led Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs) have helped engage thousands of local businesses and have brought them together with local providers and stakeholders to collaboratively agree and deliver actions to address local skills needs. By giving employers a more strategic role in the skills system, LSIPs are helping to drive greater employer investment in skills and ensure businesses are more actively involved in the planning, design and delivery of skills provision.Departmental officials are also working with the Office for Investment and Department for Business and Trade to provide support for investors to navigate the skills system at a national and local level and encourage take-up of government funded skills programmes and employer investment in skills, as well as build strategic partnerships with local education and training providers. Whilst it is not a core part of their role, some of the designated employer representative bodies leading the LSIPs have engaged with inward investors as part of developing and implementing their LSIPs.

Assessments: Writing

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the process used by examination boards to award marks for spelling, punctuation and grammar for children who use a scribe in exams.

Damian Hinds: This is a matter for the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual). The department has asked its Chief Regulator, Sir Ian Bauckham CBE, to write to the hon. Member for St Albans and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education

Carla Lockhart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what her planned timetable is for publication of the latest Relationships, Sex, Health and Education statutory guidance.

Damian Hinds: The department aims to be in a position to publish a draft of the guidance for the consultation very shortly so that the new guidance will be available as soon as possible this year.

Pupil Premium

Sir Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of not increasing pupil premium funding in line with inflation on disadvantaged students.

Damian Hinds: Pupil premium funding is rising to over £2.9 billion in 2024/25, an increase of around £90 million from 2023 to 2024. In 2024/25 the pupil premium funding rate for primary pupils is £1,480, and £1,050 for secondary pupils. Looked-after, and previously looked-after, children attract a higher rate of £2,570. These rates for 2024/25 were an increase of 1.7% on those for 2023/24. This increase was in line with inflation as measured by the GDP deflator forecasts when the rates were announced for 2024/25. As the inflation forecast for 2024/25 has since reduced, the increase in pupil premium rates of 1.7% is now higher than the latest inflation forecast. This increase ensures that this target funding continues to help schools to support disadvantaged pupils and close attainment gaps.

Department for Education: Civil Servants

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will publish her Department's results in the civil service people survey questions on leadership and managing change for each of the last 14 years.

Damian Hinds: The department’s results for each of the questions in the Civil Service People Survey relating to leadership and managing change are published online:Results from 2010 to 2018 can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/department-for-education-people-survey-results.Results from 2019 to 2023 can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/civil-service-people-surveys.

Higher Education: Greater Manchester

Navendu Mishra: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of increases in the cost of living on the accessibility of higher education for students in Greater Manchester.

Luke Hall: The government publishes an Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) is each year to analyse the impact of changes to higher education (HE) student support in England on students with protected characteristics and those from low-income families. The EIA for the 2024/25 academic year was published on GOV.UK on 26 January 2024 and is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/higher-education-student-finance-2024-to-2025-equality-analysis.The department has continued to increase maximum loans and grants for living and other costs for undergraduate and postgraduate students each year with a 2.8% increase for the current academic year, 2023/24, and a further 2.5% increase announced for 2024/25.In addition, the department has frozen maximum tuition fees for the 2023/24 and 2024/25 academic years. By 2024/25, maximum fees will have been frozen for seven successive years. The department believes that the current fee freeze achieves the best balance between ensuring that the system remains financially sustainable, offering good value for the taxpayer, and reducing debt levels for students in real terms.The government understands the pressures people have been facing with the cost of living and has taken action to help. The department has already made £276 million of student premium and mental health funding available for the 2023/24 academic year to support successful outcomes for students including disadvantaged students.The department has also made a further £10 million of one-off support available to support student mental health and hardship funding for 2023/24. This funding will complement the help universities are providing through their own bursary, scholarship and hardship support schemes. For this financial year, 2024/25, the department has increased the Student Premium (full-time, part-time, and disabled premium) by £5 million to reflect high demand for hardship support. Further details of this allocation for the academic year 2024/25 will be announced by the Office for Students (OfS) in the summer.Overall, support to households to help with the high cost of living is worth £108 billion over 2022/23 to 2024/25, an average of £3,800 per UK household. The government believes this will have eased the pressure on family budgets and so will in turn enable many families to provide additional support to their children in HE to help them meet increased living costs.English domiciled 18 year olds from the most disadvantaged areas are now 74% more likely to enter HE than they were in 2010, and the department is working to close the disadvantage gap with our access and participation reforms.The department has tasked the OfS to include support for disadvantaged students before entry to HE in new access and participation plans. Providers should be working meaningfully with schools to ensure that pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds are encouraged and supported to achieve the highest possible grades and follow the path that is best for them, whether that be an apprenticeship or higher technical qualification, or a course at another university.

Academies: Faith Schools

Ian Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to remove the 50% cap on faith-based admissions at (a) academies and (b) free schools.

Damian Hinds: The diversity of schools in this country is one of our education system’s most valuable assets and faith schools play a pivotal role in that by providing high-quality school places and choice for parents. This government remains committed in its support for faith schools.Faith school providers, including churches, are among the largest providers of academy trusts. As the department moves to an education system that is increasingly based on schools being part of strong academy trusts, the department needs to ensure that it is making the best and full use of the talents of all trusts. This includes having mechanism in place for all providers to open new schools.As the department continues to uphold diversity and quality education for all, it is keeping all policies, including the 50% faith admissions cap for free schools with a faith designation, under review to ensure that this country’s education system is world leading.

Music: Education

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2024 to Question 19580 on Music: Education, what assessment her Department has made of the ability of non-local authority Music Hubs to pay for employer contribution rates after August 2024.

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2024 to Question 19580 on Music: Education, when she plans to announce the funding rates and allocations to cover the increase in employer contribution rates for existing non-local authority Music Hubs until August 2024.

Damian Hinds: In light of the increase in employer contributions to the Teacher’s Pension Scheme (TPS) from April 2024, the department will take steps to determine the level of employer liability across all the newly appointed Music Hub Lead Organisations from September 2024. This has not been possible until recently, as applicants were informed of the outcome of the Music Hubs Investment Programme on 8 April 2024. The department will then work with Arts Council England in giving due consideration to the additional pension pressures due to the increase in employer contribution to the TPS. The outcome of this assessment will be published in the coming months.The department has already secured £1.25 billion to support eligible settings with the increased TPS employer contribution rate in the 2024/25 financial year. This will mean additional funding of £9.3 million to local authorities for centrally employed teachers, including those employed in local authority based music hubs. The department has now published the details of the additional funding for mainstream schools, high needs and local authorities with centrally employed teachers.The department has also committed to providing funding to cover the increase in employer contribution rates for non-local authority hubs for the current academic year to August 2024 and Arts Council England has communicated allocations to the relevant hub lead organisations.

Mental Health: Boys

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on steps to help improve boys' mental health.

David Johnston: The Secretary of State for Education and the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care meet regularly to discuss a variety of issues, including children’s mental health.Mental health issues can have a long-lasting effect and it is important that boys are equipped to look after their own wellbeing and receive support when they need it. The department has taken steps to ensure schools can support all pupils with mental health and wellbeing and, within that, make sure they are reaching boys. The department works closely with the Department for Health and Social Care on delivery of shared commitments in the Transforming Children and Young People’s Mental Health Provision Green Paper, including the department’s offer of senior mental health lead training for all schools and colleges and the continued rollout of Mental Health Support Teams.To tackle any stigma boys may feel in relation to seeking or offering help, the department has made mental health and wellbeing, and the tackling of gender stereotypes, a compulsory part of the curriculum for all schools. Curriculum content on respectful relationships covers stereotypes of masculinity and femininity, and content on mental wellbeing includes knowing how to talk about emotions accurately and sensitively.The department is also looking at improving access to wider activities that can help boys to develop supportive relationships and social skills and support their wellbeing.

Cabinet Office

Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton

Nick Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his oral answer of 25 April 2024, whether the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs has recused himself from any aspects of his role.

John Glen: Under the terms of the Ministerial Code, Ministers must ensure that no conflict arises, or could reasonably be perceived to arise, between their ministerial position and their private interests, financial or otherwise.There is an established regime in place for the declaration and management of interests held by ministers. This ensures that steps are taken to avoid or mitigate any potential or perceived conflicts of interest. The Foreign Secretary has declared his interests in line with this process. Those interests judged, by the Independent Adviser on Ministers’ Interests, to be relevant to his ministerial role have been published in the List of Ministers’ Interests, which is available on GOV.UK.As set out in the Ministerial Code, it is the personal responsibility of each Minister to decide whether and what action is needed to avoid a conflict or the perception of a conflict, taking account of advice received from their Permanent Secretary and the Independent Adviser on Ministers’ interests.

Department for Work and Pensions

Employment Schemes: Disability

Dame Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many disabled people the Work and Health Programme support helps into work per year; and what estimate his Department has made of the number of how many disabled people that will be helped into work by Universal Support per year.

Mims Davies: The latest Work and Health Programme statistics to November 2023 are published in the latest statistics on .GOV.UK and in Stat-Xplore. There are three eligibility groups – disability, early access and long term unemployed. Up to November 2023, 77% of starts were from the disability group. For cohorts starting up to November 2021 (who had been on the programme for 24 months at the time of release) 47% had achieved first earnings and 32% achieved a job outcome. The number of job outcomes achieved in each year can be found in the table below: Number of WHP job outcomes achieved per year in the disability group 2018-192019-202020-22021-222022-23Apr 2023- Nov-2023TOTALDisability Group3,2828,0928,06319,18616,1759,13763,935 Note: there will also be disabled people in the early access group and long term unemployed, but we are unable to identify those people – therefore these numbers will be underestimates of the total numbers of disabled people who achieve job outcomes. Further information about definitions are explained in the Work and Health Programme statistics: background information and methodology, in particular: First earnings from employment – the point at which a participant achieves their first earnings from their first employment whilst on the programme. A participant may not necessarily go on to achieve a job outcome. Statistics on first earnings from employment do not include earnings from self-employment. Job outcomes – a provider is classed as achieving a job outcome when a participant reaches either a specified level of earnings once in employment (which varies across the different areas – see detailed explanation of job outcome expectations for details) or 6 months of being in self-employment.  Universal Support will support up to 100,000 disabled people, people with health conditions and people with additional barriers to employment into sustained work per year, once fully rolled out.

Access to Work Programme

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people were waiting for a decision on their Access to Work application on 1 April 2024.

Mims Davies: As of 1st April 2024, there were 32,445 applications awaiting a decision. Please note that the data supplied is derived from unpublished management information, which was collected for internal Departmental use only, and have not been quality assured to National Statistics or Official Statistics publication standard. They should therefore be treated with caution.

Social Security Benefits: Mental Illness

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions he has had with (a) mental health professionals and (b) welfare recipients on the treatment of individuals with mental health issues.

Mims Davies: The Department routinely engages with expert stakeholders to inform policy development. For example, to support development of the proposals in the ‘Transforming Support: The Health and Disability White Paper’, officials met and continue to meet with interested stakeholders and welfare recipients with health conditions and disabilities. Officials meet regularly with clinical stakeholders from a range of specialties, including those with a mental health background from national representative organisations. When undertaking work on mental health specific polices the engagement increases in intensity to ensure the professional voice is heard and advice is taken in the best interests of our claimants. The Department has an ongoing health and disability benefits research programme including studies with claimants which often look specifically at the treatment of claimants with mental health issues. For example, we will shortly be publishing the Barriers to Accessing Health Support research, which found valuable insight into the health support needs of disability benefit claimants with mental health conditions. Other research has also been designed to include fluctuating mental health conditions, such as anxiety disorders or depression, and cognitive conditions, such as Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Social Rented Housing: Service Charges

Ms Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking (a) separately and (b) with the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to make an estimate of how much (i) housing benefit and (ii) housing element of Universal Credit is paid towards service charges of social housing tenants.

Mims Davies: The Department does not hold the data requested. (i) It is not possible to identify Housing expenditure specifically related to eligible service charges for social housing tenants in our administrative data. We only hold data on the total Housing Benefit awards and expenditure.(ii) For Universal Credit, it is not possible to split UC housing expenditure into expenditure on eligible service charges specifically.

Restart Programme

Dame Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to page 88 of his Department's Annual Report and Account 2022-23, what progress his Department has made on geographical case studies to understand local delivery challenges of the Restart programme.

Jo Churchill: The evaluation of the Restart Scheme, including research using geographical case studies, is being used to inform delivery of the Restart programme.

Department for Work and Pensions: Vacancies

Dame Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of roles in his Department are vacant as of 25 April 2024; and of those, how many and what proportion are not actively being recruited for.

Paul Maynard: DWP currently has 79,927 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) as at January 24. The proportion of roles in the Department that are vacant is not captured as DWP is currently managing a mix of recruitment to support growth whilst also replacing turnover in priority areas of Service Delivery. DWP is managing efficiencies where posts become vacant in non front line operational areas of the Department and decisions will be made on a case by case basis as to whether they will be recruited for.

Pension Credit

Owen Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people received Pension Credit in each constituency in the last five years.

Paul Maynard: Pension Credit caseload statistics are routinely published and made publicly available via DWP Stat-xplore. Stat xplore user guide can be found here: https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/User-Guide.html

Universal Credit: Midlothian

Owen Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he has made an estimate of the number of complaints his Department has received from universal credit claimants in Midlothian constituency since 2013.

Paul Maynard: The information requested is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Pensioners: Poverty

Wendy Chamberlain: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of differential uprating levels for (a) the additional state pension under the old pension system and (b) other elements of the state pension on levels of pensioner poverty.

Paul Maynard: There are no plans to make a formal assessment. In 2022/23, there were 200,000 fewer pensioners in absolute poverty after housing costs than in 2009/10. Our sustained commitment to the triple lock demonstrates our determination to continue to combat pensioner poverty in future. As a result, the full yearly amount of the basic State Pension is now £3,700 higher, in cash terms, than in 2010.

National Insurance Contributions: Databases

Dame Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to page 10 of the National Audit Office's report entitled Report on Accounts: Department for Work & Pensions, published on 29 June 2023, what the level of assurance over the integrity of National Insurance records was compared to the previous report.

Paul Maynard: The administration of National Insurance Credits is a HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) function. DWP only use the data provided by HMRC.

Pensioners: Midlothian

Owen Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people of pensionable age there were in Midlothian constituency at the most recent date for which figures are available.

Paul Maynard: The department does not hold the information required to answer this request. Please see below a link to a publication from the National Records of Scotland that holds data pertaining to this request. UK Parliamentary Constituency Population Estimates (2011 Data Zone based) | National Records of Scotland (nrscotland.gov.uk)

Social Security Benefits: Fraud

Dame Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Targeted Case Review agents there are as of 25 April 2024.

Paul Maynard: As of the 31st of March, our Targeted Case Review team currently has 3,100 Full Time equivalent agents reviewing Universal Credit claims. This is the most recent date for which data is available.

State Retirement Pensions: Midlothian

Owen Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many items of correspondence he has received on changes to the State Pension age for women born in the 1950s from people in Midlothian constituency.

Paul Maynard: The Department does not keep this information centrally and therefore it is not readily available. Providing the information that the Department does hold would incur disproportionate costs.

State Retirement Pensions: Women

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 16 April 2024 to Question 20473 on State Retirement Pensions: Women, what his expected timetable is to respond to the PHSO report.

Paul Maynard: In laying the report before Parliament at the end of March, the Ombudsman has brought matters to the attention of this House, and a further update to the House will be provided once the report's findings have been fully considered.

Universal Credit

David Linden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many requests for split payments of Universal Credit his Department (a) received and (b) granted in each year from 2016.

Jo Churchill: The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Universal Credit: Carers

David Linden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of Universal Credit payments to couples with children are paid into the main caregiver’s account.

Jo Churchill: The requested information is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Social Security Benefits: Disability

Charlotte Nichols: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department held discussions with organisations representing disabled people on the announcements made in the Prime Minister’s speech on welfare of 19 April 2024.

Mims Davies: The Secretary of State, and ministers, regularly meet with organisations representing disabled people, regarding a range of issues, including welfare. Details of ministerial meetings are published quarterly on gov.uk in line with transparency data releases and can be found here: DWP ministerial gifts, hospitality, travel and meetings, - GOV.UK

Medical Certificates

Charlotte Nichols: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Prime Minister’s speech on welfare of 19 April 2024, who the specialist work and health professionals are that will be responsible for issuing fit notes; and whether his Department plans to provide training to those professionals on the range of health conditions relevant to the issuing of fit notes.

Mims Davies: The trailblazers announced at Autumn Statement 2023 will recruit clinical and non-clinical professionals into roles where they will be provided with additional training and support to conduct robust and in-depth work and health conversations with people, who in turn will be provided with advice and guidance on how they might be able to stay in, or return to, work with the support of their employer.Our ambition is to co-develop a new fit note process delivered through multi-disciplinary teams, bringing together the issuing of fit notes with health and work advice to support people who are at risk of falling out of work or who have already fallen out of work due to ill health.

Unemployment: Chronic Illnesses

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the levels of benefits on economic inactivity due to ill health.

Mims Davies: No assessment has been made.

Access to Work Programme

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment his Department has made of the implications for his policies of the increase in Access to Work applications between September 2023 and March 2024.

Mims Davies: AtW is one of a suite of policies aimed at helping disabled people to enter and thrive in work. Access to Work (AtW) remains in high demand. We have increased the number of staff processing AtW claims and are prioritising renewal applications and those with a job start within four weeks. We are improving the service through increased digitisation to improve the time from application through to decision.

Access to Work Programme

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many new staff have been recruited to work on the Access to Work programme in each of the last six months for which data is available; and whether her Department plans to recruit more staff to work on this programme.

Mims Davies: Please find figures for new staff that have been recruited to work on the Access to Work programme for the last 6 months.Month Number of new staff November 202314December 20231January 20241February 202430March 20244April (at 23/4/24)7 An additional 95 staff will be redeployed to Access to Work in May/June 2024 and another 13 are expected through recruitment in May 2024. Month Number of staffMay / June 2024108

Department for Work and Pensions: Labour Turnover

Dame Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the staff turnover rate for his Department is as of 25 April 2024.

Paul Maynard: The departments turnover figures are only available at the end of each month. The DWP turnover rate as of 31st March 2024 is 7.3%.

Department for Work and Pensions: Environment Protection

Dame Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what progress his Department has made on meeting its Greening Government Commitment targets.

Paul Maynard: DWP’s 2023/24 GGC performance is currently being collated and will be submitted to DEFRA at the end of May 2024. Therefore, 2022/23 is the latest full year of GGC data that is available and a summary of DWP’s performance (including our ALBs) against each of the headline GGC targets from 2022/23 is provided below. Further details of DWP’s performance (excluding ALBs) is available in DWP’s 2022/23 Annual Report and Accounts. Target A: Mitigating climate change: working towards net zero by 2050DWP reduced our total greenhouse gas emissions by 32% compared to the 17/18 baseline, which is on track to meet the target to reduce by 45% by 2024/25. DWP reduced our direct greenhouse gas emissions by 1% compared to the 17/18 baseline. During the pandemic DWP took on c.200 additional properties to respond to national requirements. These buildings were still part of the estate in 2022/23 which impacted the direct greenhouse gas emissions performance; however, significant estate rationalisation has occurred during 2023/24 and we forecast we will meet the 2024/25 target to reduce by 17%. Target B: Minimising waste and promoting resource efficiencyDWP reduced our total waste generated by 31% compared to the 2017/18 baseline, exceeding the target to reduce by 15% by 2024/25. Target C: Minimising waste and promoting resource efficiencyDWP reduced our water consumption by 19% compared to the 2017/18 baseline, exceeding the target to reduce by 8% by 2024/25. Target D: Procuring sustainable products and servicesDWP has a sustainable procurement policy and ensures all procurement activities comply with the Government Buying Standards, meeting the target requirements. Target E: Nature Recovery – making space for thriving plants and wildlifeDWP has developed a draft nature recovery plan and intend to finalise this before 2024/25 to meet the target requirements. Target F: Adapting to climate changeDWP has developed a climate change adaptation strategy which includes a climate change risk assessment and climate change adaptation plan for its estates and operations, meeting the target requirements. Target G: Reducing environmental impacts from information communication technology (ICT) and digitalDWP provide annual reporting data against the ICT & digital services strategy and provide membership to the sustainable technology advice and reporting team, meeting the target requirements.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Islamophobia

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with refence to the oral answer of 4 March 2024 from the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Housing and Homelessness to the hon. Member for Blaydon, Official Report, column 627, what his planned timetable is for appointing an independent adviser on tackling anti-Muslim hatred.

Lee Rowley: I refer the Hon Member to the oral answer given by my Hon Friend, the Member for Kensington on 4 March 2024 (Official Report, HC Volume 746, Column 627).Further details will be set out in due course.

Temporary Accommodation: Greater London

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps he is taking to reduce the number of families living in temporary accommodation in London.

Felicity Buchan: Time spent in temporary accommodation means people are getting help and it ensures no family is without a roof over their head.The Government is committed to ensuring that families can move out of temporary accommodation and into stable accommodation, as well as reducing the need for temporary accommodation by preventing homelessness before it occurs. That is why we are investing £1.2 billon through the Homelessness Prevention Grant over three years and, recognising current pressures, including a £109 million top up for 2024/25, giving councils the funding they need to prevent homelessness and help more people sooner. Councils in London have been allocated over £198 million through the Homelessness Prevention Grant for 2024/25.The Local Authority Housing Fund also enables councils in England to buy or build housing stock to provide a lasting affordable housing asset for the future. We recently announced a third round of funding, bringing the total funding to £1.2 billion.

Unadopted Roads

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will make it his policy to require local authorities to put the names of all unadopted roads in their authority on a website with the name of the responsible developer for each road.

Lee Rowley: I am grateful to my Honourable Friend for his suggestions and it is one we will bear in mind for the future.Prospective homeowners should be made aware of the financial arrangements and their responsibilities are for the upkeep of any communal areas, whether public or otherwise, prior to purchase. Through the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill, we are taking action to protect homeowners and drive-up awareness of ongoing obligations when buying and selling a property.

Empty Property

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how many and what proportion of homes that have been recorded as vacant for over two years are categorised as (a) primary residences, (b) second homes, and (c) other properties in each region; and what steps he is taking to bring these homes back into use.

Lee Rowley: The department publishes live tables on dwelling stock, which includes vacant homes here: Live tables on dwelling stock (including vacants) - GOV.UK. This data is collated from Council Taxbase data, collected by local authorities.

Members: Correspondence

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, when he plans to respond to the correspondence from the hon. Member for Weaver Vale of 20 December 2023.

Lee Rowley: Departmental officials are in regular contact with the leaseholders at Agar Grove to discuss the situation. Departmental officials and I are actively discussing the situation at Agar Grove and will write directly to those involved with an update in due course.

Social Rented Housing: Construction

Holly Lynch: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of building an additional 1 million homes for social rent in the next 10 years; and whether he has had discussions with the private sector on building homes for social rent.

Jacob Young: Our £11.5 billion Affordable Homes Programme will deliver thousands of affordable homes for both rent and to buy right across the country.The Levelling Up White Paper committed to increasing the supply of social rented homes and a large number of the new homes delivered through our Affordable Homes Programme will be for social rent.Since 2010, we have delivered over 696,100 new affordable homes, including over 482,000 affordable homes for rent, of which over 172,600 homes for social rent.

Social Rented Housing: Service Charges

Ms Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to the Answer of 14 December 2022 to Question 104103 on Social Rented Housing: Rents, if his Department will commission research into the (a) prevalence of tenants in social housing being incorrectly charged for services they do not receive and (b) impact of (i) caretaking, (ii) maintenance of lifts and door entry systems and (ii) other elements previously covered by rent in social housing now being paid for by service charges.

Ms Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps he is taking to ensure that housing associations do not circumvent the 7.7 per cent cap on rent increases in 2024-25 by raising service charges.

Jacob Young: The Government is clear that service charges should relate to costs, and that it would not be acceptable for Registered Providers of social housing to increase service charges simply as a means of boosting rental revenue. Registered Providers (including housing associations) are expected to supply tenants with clear information about how service charges are set.Where there are concerns about the calculation, collection or communication of service charges, tenants may ask the Housing Ombudsman to investigate their complaint. The Government has strengthened the Housing Ombudsman Service, so tenants of social landlords have somewhere to turn when they are not getting the answers they need from their landlords.The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities works closely with the Regulator of Social Housing, and the Department for Work of Pensions to ascertain the impact of social housing rent policy on taxpayers, tenants and providers.

Local Government: Debt Collection

Navendu Mishra: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what estimate he has made of the total amount of revenue raised by local authorities via the use of debt recovery agencies in the last 12 months.

Simon Hoare: The Government does not collect data on the different collection methods used by councils, or the revenues collected by them. The Government does however publish data on the overall amounts of council tax and business rates collected and the total arrears for each financial year. This data is available here.

Cultural Heritage

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether the Government is taking steps to protect the historic county status of (a) Essex and (b) other counties.

Simon Hoare: The Government attaches great importance to our country’s history and traditions and encourages recognition of our historic counties, often marked by local celebrations on county days. I write to local leaders to encourage and support these celebrations throughout the year. This year, there are 56 registered historic county flags across Great Britain, which includes the addition of three new flags for Banffshire, Berwickshire and Morayshire. My department proudly flies each registered county flag in Whitehall to mark county days, and this includes flying the flag for Essex.

Mayors: Yorkshire and the Humber

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has he made of the potential merits of developing a plan for cooperation by metro mayors in Yorkshire.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will take steps to give the same powers to the metro mayors in Yorkshire.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps he is taking to help ensure that the whole of Yorkshire benefits from metro mayors.

Jacob Young: This Government has devolved powers and funding to the Mayoral Combined Authority areas of South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, and York and North Yorkshire, providing them with over £2.5 billion of funding over 30 years. At the 2023 Autumn Statement, we agreed a mayoral devolution deal for the remaining area of Yorkshire - Hull and East Yorkshire - and, subject to final consents and parliamentary approval, a Combined Authority is expected to be established in Autumn 2024 with the inaugural mayoral election in May 2025.At the Convention of the North, we announced historic Level 4 devolution agreements with both West Yorkshire and South Yorkshire. These agreements will deepen the power of the Combined Authorities and the metro mayors, including providing new flexibility over local growth, regeneration and housing funding from the next Spending Review. The Government remains committed to deepening the powers of more mayors over time.

Home Office

Antisocial Behaviour: Cars

Tahir Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his Department is taking steps to support Birmingham City Council’s efforts to tackle street cruising.

Chris Philp: The exercise of powers under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 by local authorities is a local matter.

Opioids

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of synthetic opioids; and what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department’s policies of (a) related crises and (b) governmental responses in (i) the USA and (ii) Canada.

Chris Philp: Tackling Class A drugs, including synthetic opioids, is a priority for the Government due to the harm caused to users, society and the economy.We assess that the scale of trafficking of synthetic opioids into the UK remains low, including relative to countries like the USA and Canada where they have caused devastation. Sadly, nitazenes have been linked to more than 100 deaths in the UK during the last year, and we are taking action.The cross-Government Synthetic Opioids Taskforce is working with partners, such as the NCA, the Department for Health and Social Care and the National Police Chiefs Council to deliver an evidence-based response to the risk posed by synthetic opioids, and to implement effective action to stem the demand and supply of these dangerous substances.We regularly meet bilaterally with our partners in the USA and Canada to understand the tragic situation in North America and to learn from their responses. We are key members of the US-led Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats, and I recently attended the UN’s Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna to meet with and learn from partners across the world.

WEDINOS

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of (a) expansion and (b) potential roll-out across the UK of the WEDINOS laboratory drug-testing service.

Chris Philp: The Government has not made a formal assessment of the benefits of drug testing services but it recognises the potential harm reduction benefits of them. The Government facilitates drug testing services provided that the possession and supply of controlled drugs are licensed by the Home Office Drugs and Firearms Licensing Unit or, exceptionally, relevant exemptions under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 may apply.Ministers are clear that drug testing services must not condone drug use and should only be delivered where licensed and operated responsibly, in line with Government policy to ensure that they discourage drug use and signpost potential users to treatment and support.

Home Office: Electronic Purchasing Card Solution

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to his Department's publication entitled Home Office procurement card spend over £500: February 2024, published on 23 April 2024, what the overseas costs linked to his visit were for the £705.93 paid to The Cinnamon Club on 16 February 2024.

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to his Department's publication entitled Home Office procurement card spend over £500: February 2024, published on 23 April 2024, what the overseas costs linked to his visit were for the £636.48 paid to Fletcher Gallery Services Ltd on 20 February 2024.

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to his Department's publication entitled Home Office procurement card spend over £500: February 2024, published on 23 April 2024, what the overseas costs linked to his visit were for the £4,409.66 paid to Cloveride Inc on 28 February 2024.

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to his Department's publication entitled Home Office procurement card spend over £500: February 2024, published on 23 April 2024, which Honourable Society was paid £10,112.40 on 27 February 2024; and what the publication launch was for which that venue was booked.

Chris Philp: a) Honourable Society These costs were incurred for the procurement of a venue for publication day launch of the Angiolini Inquiry Part 1 report. b) Cinnamon Club These costs were incurred for the Permanent Secretary’s hosting of US Department of Justice officials in the UK, as part of the HO-DoJ Strategic Dialogue. c) Fletcher Gallery Services These costs (none overseas) were incurred for the purchase of departmental furnishings. d) Cloveride These costs were incurred for the hire of two chauffeured vehicles for the Home Secretary’s official visit to New York in February 2024.

Unmanned Air Vehicles: Crime

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on how many occasions a person (a) was interviewed and (b) had charges brought against them in connection with controlling drones above an ongoing crime scene in 2023.

Chris Philp: The Home Office does not hold information on the number of interviews or charges in connection with controlling drones above ongoing crime scenes.

Wildlife: Crime

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he has had recent discussions with the police on the potential merits of incorporating wildlife crime into the Policing Education Qualification Framework.

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make an assessment with the Chancellor of the Exchequer of the potential impact of crime on the economy in rural areas.

Chris Philp: This Government recognises the importance of tackling wildlife crime, which is why, along with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Home Office directly funds the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) to help tackle these crimes.The NWCU provides intelligence, analysis and investigative assistance to the police and other law enforcement agencies across the UK to support them in investigating wildlife crime. This includes supporting cases referred by Border Force to the National Crime Agency or to individual forces.The NWCU is also the UK policing focal point for EUROPOL and INTERPOL wildlife crime activity. In addition, the National Police Chiefs’ Council Wildlife and Rural Crime Strategy 2022-2025 provides a framework through which policing, and its partners, can work together to tackle the most prevalent threats and emerging issues which predominantly affect rural communities.Training standards and the national policing curriculum (covering initial training for all officers) are set by the College of Policing to ensure all officers benefit from the same high standard of initial training, regardless of which force they join. Officers undertake further training and development during their career, which may be tailored to their specific role.We have not recently held discussions with policing on the potential merit to incorporate wildlife crime into the Policing Education Qualification Framework and there are currently no plans to undertake an assessment of the impact of crime on the economy in rural areas.

Tools: Theft

Mr Louie French: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department is taking to help tackle the (a) theft of and (b) selling of stolen tools.

Chris Philp: Crime Survey for England and Wales data shows that neighbourhood crime is down 48% when comparing findings from the Crime Survey to year ending September 2023 with the year ending March 2010.The Government is tackling acquisitive crime as a priority and is committed to reducing the ability for criminals to profit from crime, making it less attractive for offenders to commit thefts of goods, including tools. The theft of tools can have a significant impact on victims, particularly those who rely on their tools to earn a living.The Government supported the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023, which will require certain specified equipment to be marked and registered before it is sold to the first owner. The Home Office consulted on extending the legislation to include tradespeople's power tools to help prevent theft and assist police forces with identifying and proving ownership of stolen property. The Government's response to the consultation will be published shortly.The Government is working with the police-led National Business Crime Centre (NBCC) and the Combined Industries Theft Solutions to explore ways to prevent the theft of tools from tradespeople's vans. The NBCC and Police Crime Prevention Initiatives (Secured By Design) have also published crime prevention guidance to help tradespeople prevent theft: https://nbcc.police.uk/crime-prevention/crime-prevention-guides and https://www.securedbydesign.com/guidance/crime-prevention-advice/vehicle-crime/vans-tool-theft.We are also working with partners to make tradespeople's vans more secure. Following engagement with the Home Office and National Vehicle Crime Working Group, Thatcham Research has agreed to add to their New Vehicle Security Assessment (NVSA), locks and alarms on the back of vans (previously NVSA only covers the cab area of vans) and a motion sensor on the load area of the van.In addition, through the National Vehicle Crime Working Group, a network of vehicle crime specialists has been established, involving every police force in England and Wales, to ensure forces can share information about emerging trends in vehicle crime and better tackle regional issues.

Visas: Families

Deidre Brock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he plans to (a) review and (b) increase the number of staff recruited to his Department's Family and Human Rights Unit in the context of trends in the proportion of people relying on their rights under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights in applications for family visas.

Tom Pursglove: Yes, we have both recruited new staff and redeployed existing staff to this area of work.

Cybercrime: Public Sector

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a ban on public sector bodies paying a ransom to criminal groups in exchange for decryption.

Tom Tugendhat: Cyber crime is a significant threat to the security and prosperity of the UK. The most recent Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) estimated that there were 984,000 ‘computer misuse’ offences against individuals in England and Wales in the year ending December 2023. The Government recognises ransomware as the most significant national security cyber threat.The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) discourages paying ransoms, noting that such payments rarely ensure data recovery. The UK Government neither pays ransoms nor condones the payment of ransoms to criminals, always advising against such substantial concessions to hostage-takers or extortionists.At the Counter Ransomware Initiative (CRI) summit in Washington last year, we led a joint statement signed by 46 countries and Interpol, which pledged that “relevant institutions under the authority of our national government” should not be used to pay a ransomware demand. This was the first international statement of its kind. Our joint statement was a major milestone in achieving international consensus around the non-payment of ransoms.

Immigration Controls: Republic of Ireland

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the border between the UK and Republic of Ireland is secure against the passage malign foreign actors.

Tom Tugendhat: We continue a high level of cooperation on border security with Ireland; working closely together to identify and tackle those who seek to abuse arrangements from entering the Common Travel Area.Schedule 3 to the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019 allows a Counter-Terrorism Police Officer to stop, question and, when necessary, detain and search, individuals and goods travelling through UK ports and the “border area” for the purpose of determining whether the person (or the goods) appears to be someone who is, or has been, engaged in hostile activity.In Northern Ireland, a place is within the “border area” if it is no more than one mile from the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland or it is the first place at which a train travelling from the Republic of Ireland stops to let passengers off.Individuals who seek to abuse the Common Travel Area arrangements are liable to be detained, and if unlawfully entering the UK, removed.

Telephone Services: Fraud

Ben Lake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his Department is taking steps to support (a) businesses and (b) other organisations whose numbers are used by (i) nuisance callers and (ii) criminals in number spoofing scams.

Tom Tugendhat: A central pillar of the Government’s Fraud Strategy is blocking individuals and groups from attempting to impersonate other organisations and institutional bodies. As part of this work, the Government has introduced a new measure to the Criminal Justice Bill to strengthen law enforcement capabilities to tackle scam text messages. The Bill will create a new offence for supplying or possessing “SIM farm” devices (which allow criminals to send scam texts to thousands of individuals and businesses at the same time), without good reason or undertaking adequate due diligence.In addition, the Government and Industry have signed the Telecommunications Fraud Sector Charter, a voluntary agreement to improve counter-fraud efforts. As a result of the Charter, the sector has introduced firewalls that detect and stop scam texts from reaching customers. Since January 2022, the firewalls have stopped 960 million scam text messages.Law enforcement are also working tirelessly to tackle criminal number spoofing operations at source. Last year, Operation Elaborate led by the Metropolitan police took down iSpoof, a website that was used to make 10 million spoof calls impersonating individuals and businesses. The international joint action led to 142 arrests and the main administrator of the website was sentenced to 13 years and 4 months of imprisonment.In April this year, in another successful joint operation codenamed Stargrew, the Met took down LabHost; a major criminal website, which fraudsters used to create over 40,000 fake phishing websites impersonating businesses. So far the operation has led to 37 arrests, and over 25,000 victims in the UK have been contacted.

Visas: Skilled Workers

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make it his policy to exempt people who arrived in the UK before 1 January 2024 from the new earnings threshold for skilled worker visa applications.

Tom Pursglove: The Government position was originally set out on 8 December 2023. Updated details are available here: homeofficemedia.blog.gov.uk/2024/02/01/reducing-net-migration-factsheet-december-2023/.Those already in the Skilled Worker route before the Immigration Rules changes are exempt from the new median salary levels when they change sponsor, extend, or settle. We would, however, expect their pay to progress at the same rate as resident workers; therefore, they will be subject to the updated 25th percentiles using the latest pay data when they next make an application to change employment, extend their stay, or settle. This is in line with normal practice.Anyone switching into the Skilled Worker category after 4 April will be subject to the new salary requirement. This includes those in the UK switching from other immigration routes.

Visas: Married People

Keir Mather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he plans to raise the minimum income threshold for the spouse/partner visa to (a) £34,500 and (b) £38,700.

Tom Pursglove: The first increase to the MIR took effect from 11 April 2024 when it was raised to £29,000. The dates for further increases to £34,500 and £38,700 will be announced in due course.

Migrant Workers: Hospitality Industry

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many certificates of sponsorship were (a) applied for and (b) approved to the hospitality industry in each of the last 12 months.

Tom Pursglove: The Home Office does not routinely publish data on this issue.

Asylum

Navendu Mishra: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what proportion of applicants refused asylum did not appeal that decision in the last 12 months.

Tom Pursglove: The requested information cannot be accurately extracted from our internal systems. To provide this information would require a manual trawl of asylum refusal decisions and to do so would incur disproportionate cost.It might be helpful to explain that data on asylum outcomes is published as part of the Immigration Statistics at Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Tab Asy_D02 of the Asylum and Resettlement tables contains data on asylum refusal decisions. Data on appeal volumes is published by HM Courts and Tribunals Service on a quarterly basis. The latest publication can be found at Tribunals statistics quarterly: October to December 2023 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Table FIA_1 of the Main Tables section shows asylum and protection appeal volumes data to 31 December 2023.

British Nationality: Equality

Ben Lake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 8 March 2024 to Question 16407 on British Nationality, whether his Department has made an assessment of the compatibility of the policy on British citizenship from birth for a person born between 2 October 2000 and 29 April 2006 with obligations under the Equality Act 2010.

Tom Pursglove: The British Nationality Act 1981 sets out how a person, born in the UK, may be a British citizen at birth, requiring that at least one parent is either settled here or British themselves. We are content that the determination of citizenship for children born to EEA nationals during the period cited is in keeping with that statute and does not breach any equalities obligations.

Visas: Graduates

Dr Philippa Whitford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of (a) the increase in (i) visa and (ii) Immigration Health Surcharge fees and (b) the removal of the ability of taught masters students to bring dependants on trends in the level of demand for graduate visas.

Tom Pursglove: The Home Office produced Impact Assessments (IA) alongside the visa and Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) fee changes and the package of Student route reforms, including the change to dependant eligibility.The Migration Advisory Committee are undertaking a review of the Graduate route. We will consider any evidence put forward by the MAC very closely.

Youth Mobility Scheme: EU Countries

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will publish a response to the proposal of 18 April 2024 by the EU Commission to open negotiations to facilitate youth mobility visas between the EU and the UK.

Tom Pursglove: The UK notes the publication by the European Commission on 18 April 2024 setting out a proposal to EU Member States and seeking their agreement to negotiate a UK/EU wide Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS). This is currently a matter for the EU and its Member States and the UK has not been formally approached.

Refugees: Afghanistan

Nadia Whittome: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the judgment of HR & Ors, R (On the Application Of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2024] EWHC 786 (Admin) of 11 April 2024, whether it his policy to (a) develop a referral process to allow eligible parents and their immediate family members to be resettled under pathway one of the Afghan citizens resettlement scheme and (b) begin to accept referrals under that route in the first half of 2024.

Tom Pursglove: I can confirm that it is our intention, as was made clear through the judgment referenced, to establish a route for those evacuated from Afghanistan under Pathway 1 of the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme without their immediate family members to be reunited in the UK. We remain on track to open the route for referrals in the first half of this year. Further details will be provided in due course.

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

Renewable Energy: Finance

Dave Doogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of lowering the market reference prices for the Contracts for Difference AR6 on the (a) budget that can be allocated to projects during the auction, (b) number of projects that can be awarded in that round and (c) total capacity that will be secured through AR6.

Andrew Bowie: The reference prices we use for the Contracts for Difference budget are an output from the Department’s main power model and are characteristic of decarbonisation pathways that are net-zero consistent. Budgets are set based on a wide range of factors such as an assessment of the pipeline of projects that could participate in the auction, rather than being a pre-determined monetary constraint. If reference prices were higher or lower, the budget would change accordingly, and approximately the same capacity would likely be successful in the auction.

Renewable Energy: Finance

Dave Doogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of increasing the budget for Pot 1 of the Contracts for Difference AR6 to ensure that Government targets for established technologies are met.

Andrew Bowie: National Grid ESO (NG ESO) is currently assessing applications to Allocation Round 6 of the Contracts for Difference scheme. Later this year, the Secretary of State will have an opportunity to review the budget following receipt of the formal valuation of applications from NG ESO.

Batteries: Factories

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether her Department has made an assessment of the impact of the establishment of a data centre at the Cambois site on the availability of the industrial land to provide the additional electricity infrastructure needed for a gigafactory at that site.

Justin Tomlinson: Assessing the impact of new projects connecting to the electricity grid, such as data centres, and designing the network to do so, is the responsibility of licensed electricity network companies, regulated independently by Ofgem.

Electricity: National Grid

Selaine Saxby: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will make an estimate of the number of kilometres of transmission network that will be added to the electricity grid in the (a) 2020s, (b) 2030s and (c) 2040s.

Justin Tomlinson: The Department does not estimate the future size of the transmission network. The Electricity System Operator, along with Transmission Operators and Ofgem, is responsible for the development of the network. The ESO is required to publish annual recommendations for which transmission network reinforcement projects should receive investment, but this does not include data on the length of projects. The latest recommendations, published in the 'Beyond 2030' report, cover network needs up to the mid-2030s. The report is available on the ESO's website.

Brazil: Bilateral Aid

Neil Coyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to page 7 of the document entitled ICF Brazil: Summary, published in March 2024, when the Government plans to disburse its £115 million contribution to the Amazon Fund.

Justin Tomlinson: The UK is the third biggest contributor of climate finance to Brazil, with more than £400 million committed. The UK’s contribution supports initiatives under the Green and Inclusive Growth partnership to help Brazil’s economic transition to net zero, reduce deforestation rates and support Brazil’s ambition to develop a bioeconomy which values standing forest and supports local communities’ livelihoods. At COP 28 the UK signed a legal agreement with the Amazon Fund and an initial disbursement is planned for 2024.

Natural Gas: Russia

Selaine Saxby: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what volume of gas was imported from Russia in 2023.

Justin Tomlinson: In 2023, the UK did not import any gas from Russia. The last import of gas from Russia to the UK was in March 2022 (Energy Trends Table 4.4).

Electricity: National Grid

Selaine Saxby: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many kilometres of transmission network were added to the electricity grid in the period (a) between 1994 and 1999, (b) between 2000 and 2009, (c) between 2010 and 2019 and (d) since 2019.

Justin Tomlinson: The Department does not hold historic data of annual transmission network build. As stated in the Electricity Networks Strategic Framework, in 2021 there were approximately 20,000km of onshore high voltage transmission cables in the UK.

Energy Supply

Selaine Saxby: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will make an estimate of the proportion of total energy demand will be met by (a) oil, (b) gas and (c) nuclear in (i) 2025, (ii) 2030, (iii) 2035, (iv) 2040, (v) 2045 and (vi) 2050.

Andrew Bowie: The table below sets out shares for oil, gas and nuclear consistent with a pathway to meeting the UK’s 6th Carbon Budget.  2022202520302035Gas (% of total energy)38%37%33%28%Oil (% of total energy)38%36%34%23%Electricity from nuclear (% of total energy)2%2%2%4%Electricity from nuclear (% of electricity)15%15%10%13% Beyond 2035, oil and gas use will need to continue to decline but will remain an important part of the energy mix and even when reaching net zero in 2050 oil and gas (combined) could still provide around a quarter of the UK's energy needs. The Government has set out an ambition for nuclear energy to provide up to around a quarter of the UK’s electricity needs by 2050 which would represent around 12% of expected total energy demand.

Renewable Energy: Expenditure

Selaine Saxby: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how much (a) private sector investment and (b) public sector funding there has been for (i) onshore wind, (ii) offshore wind and (iii) solar power in each financial year since 2009-10.

Selaine Saxby: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what information her Department holds on the year in which the highest level of private sector investment into renewable sources of power generation was recorded.

Andrew Bowie: Based on data from BloombergNEF, total investment into UK offshore wind, onshore wind and solar PV was £143bn over 2009-2023 (converted to real 2023 prices, nearest £bn). For these technologies, a record £19bn was in 2023, helping the renewable share of total UK electricity generation increase from 7% in 2010 to nearly 50% in 2023. In the UK, renewables receive levy-funded support through legacy schemes (Renewables Obligation [RO] and Feed-in Tariffs [FiTs]), and our Contracts for Difference (CfD) mechanism. The OBR regularly publish estimates of levy spend for the prior financial year across the RO and CfD schemes, and Ofgem publishes estimates for FiTs, aggregated for all renewables. For the CfD scheme only, the LCCC publish data at a technology and plant level.

Electricity

Selaine Saxby: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent estimate she has made of what (a) peak and (b) total electricity demand will be in (i) 2025, (ii) 2030, (iii) 2035, (iv) 2040, (v) 2045 and (vi) 2050.

Justin Tomlinson: Total demand and peak demand figures corresponding to the latest scenarios published in Annex O of the Energy and Emission Projections[1] are:   202520302035204020452050Total Demand (TWh)Low309362449482535580 High310363483563656771Peak Demand (GW)Low597494105119131 High5974107139166191  [1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/energy-and-emissions-projections-2021-to-2040

Liquefied Natural Gas: Imports

Selaine Saxby: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what volume of gas was imported into the UK as liquefied natural gas in each of the last 20 years.

Selaine Saxby: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what proportion of gas demand was met by imports of liquefied natural gas in each of the last 20 years.

Justin Tomlinson: UK gas demand and imports of gas into the UK as liquified natural gas (LNG) in each of the last 20 years are published in Energy Trends Table 4.1. LNG imports as a proportion of gas demand for each of the last 20 years can be derived from these data. Caution should be taken when inferring that imported LNG met demand due to the interconnected nature of gas pipeline infrastructure (e.g. LNG would be mixed with other gas in the network some of which is then exported).

Electricity: Hydrogen

Selaine Saxby: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate she has made of the levelised cost of electricity from hydrogen fired power stations that are due to be commissioned before 2030.

Andrew Bowie: The Electricity generation costs 2023 report published by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero sets out the assumptions for a hydrogen-fired Combined Cycle Hydrogen Turbine (CCHT) power plant commissioned between 2025-2030. The cost of the electricity was stated as £111/MWh for a baseload CCHT commissioning in 2025 and £108/MWh for 2030. Hydrogen to Power is an emerging technology and as such all figures are subject to change. We will continue to monitor and update cost estimates based on new evidence as it becomes available. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/electricity-generation-costs-2023.

Wind Power: Seas and Oceans

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of pot two of the contract for difference allocation round six in the context of the eligibility of the Green Volt floating offshore wind project.

Andrew Bowie: National Grid (ESO) is currently assessing applications to Allocation Round 6 of the Contracts for Difference scheme. Once all applications have been reviewed and any appeals processes completed, my Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State will have the opportunity to consider revising the budget.

Wind Power: Seas and Oceans

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether she has received recent representations from relevant stakeholders on the adequacy of pot two within the contract for difference allocation round six for supporting at least three floating offshore wind test and demonstration projects.

Andrew Bowie: The Department engages regularly with renewable electricity developers across a range of technologies, including floating offshore wind and tidal. The parameters for Allocation Round 6 include a budget of £105 million for Pot 2. My Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State will have the opportunity to review the budget once eligibility checks and appeals are complete.

Energy: Prices

Owen Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether her Department is providing additional support to carers to help with rising energy costs.

Amanda Solloway: Energy prices have fallen significantly since last winter, and the Q2 2024 price cap has fallen by nearly 60% since Q1 2023 when the price cap peaked. The Government’s cost-of-living support package between 2022 to 2025 is worth £108 billion, or £3,800 per household on average, one of the largest support packages in Europe. In addition, the Government continues to provide support through the Warm Home Discount, which provides eligible low-income households with an annual £150 rebate off their energy bill every winter. Carer’s Allowance is also available to provide a measure of financial support to those not able to work full time due to their caring responsibilities. The rate of Carer’s Allowance is £81.90 a week. In addition to Carer’s Allowance, carers on low incomes can claim income-related benefits, such as Universal Credit and Pension Credit.

Ofgem: Consultants

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how much Ofgem has spent on external consultancies in the last five years.

Amanda Solloway: Ofgem is an independent regulator and accountable directly to Parliament. While DESNZ has close links to Ofgem we do not regulate or fund them. However, information on payments to suppliers, including consultancies, can be found at: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/about-us/corporate-publications/expenses-and-contracts-data?sort=publication_date and Ofgem’s annual report and accounts is at: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/ofgem-annual-report-and-accounts-2022-2023

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Aberdeen

Dave Doogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 24 April 2024 to Question 22389 on Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Aberdeen, what grade the 102 staff employed in her Department's offices in Aberdeen are.

Justin Tomlinson: The grade breakdown of current staff based in the Aberdeen office is as follows: SCS11G63G715SEO47HEO22EO11AO3Total102

Gas Fired Power Stations and Wind Power: Costs

Craig Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what the average levelised cost is for combined cycle gas-fired power stations, assuming current natural gas spot prices, in the last five years; and what the average levelised cost is for offshore windfarms commissioned in the same period.

Justin Tomlinson: The Department publishes its levelised costs of electricity for a generic plant in the Generation Costs Report, most recently in 2023 (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/energy-generation-cost-projections). These provide forecasts for 2025 to 2040. Gas CCGT is 114 £/MWh for 2025 and offshore wind is 44 £/MWh for 2025 (2021 price base). Levelised costs use a forecast of gas prices over the lifetime of a plant based on the latest published gas price forecasts at the time of publication (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fossil-fuel-price-assumptions-2019).

Boiler Upgrade Scheme: Rural Areas

Sir Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps her Department is taking to reform the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to support off-gas properties.

Amanda Solloway: The Government published its response to the consultation on amendments to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) in March. We will be making a series of changes including: removing insulation requirements; increasing the capacity limit for shared ground loops from 45kW to 300kW; expanding the definition of biomass boilers to include those with a cooking function and introducing flexibility to allow for the potential future differentiation of grant levels for off grid properties.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Plastics: Treaties

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department is participating in the fourth session of negotiations on a global plastics treaty in Ottawa that began on 23 April 2024.

Rebecca Pow: The Department participated in the fourth session of negotiations on a global plastics treaty in Ottawa. Officials from Defra attended the fourth session of negotiations to develop a global plastics pollution treaty, and I attended the high-level segment hosted by Canada ahead of the start of formal negotiations. The UK’s negotiating mandate covers the relevant policy from across Government departments and we continue to strongly support the active and meaningful participation of stakeholders, including UK businesses, at all stages of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) process. As a founding member of the High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution, the UK remains committed to securing an ambitious treaty by the end of 2024 that includes measures to address plastic pollution across the full lifecycle of plastic. We continue to work closely with other member states and stakeholders at, and beyond, the fourth session of the INC to advance negotiations and pave the way for a historic agreement.

Flood Control

Emma Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 24 April 2024 to Question 22631 on Flood Control, when the meeting with the Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning and Transport’s Flood and Water Group took place, and if he will publish the letter that Group wrote to his Department after the meeting.

Robbie Moore: In considering the National Infrastructure Commission’s (NIC) study into surface water flooding, Defra officials met with the Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning and Transport’s (ADEPT) Flood and Water Group on 30 January 2023. Following the meeting ADEPT officials shared a short note setting out their views on the NIC’s nine recommendations which the government considered in developing the response to the study. It is not the Department’s policy to publish exchanges between officials.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Public Expenditure

Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of cash losses incurred by his Department arising from (a) theft, (b) fraud, (c) arson, (d) sabotage and (e) gross carelessness in the last 12 months.

Sir Mark Spencer: Estimates and actual losses for 2023-24 are currently in the process of being finalised and will be published in our Annual Report and Accounts. Losses from theft and fraud are expected to be in the region of losses incurred in previous years. The figures for 2021-22 and 2022-23 may be found in the following reports: Annual Report and Accounts 2021-22 and Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23. The level of detected fraud across Defra in 2021-22 may also be found in the cross-Government Fraud Landscape Report. We are unable to provide any estimates regarding arson, sabotage and gross carelessness as our losses data is aggregated and it is not possible to easily report this level of detail.

Treasury

Treasury: Correspondence

Sir Robert Buckland: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when his Department plans to respond to correspondence from the Chair of the Northern Ireland Assembly Finance Committee dated 21 February 2024, regarding the Northern Ireland Executive Restoration Package Settlement.

Laura Trott: A response has been issued to the Chair of the Northern Ireland Assembly Finance Committee’s letter on the Northern Ireland Executive’s restoration financial package.

Tobacco: Exports

Sir Christopher Chope: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the total value was of (a) cigars, (b) snuff and (c) other tobacco products exported from the UK in (i) 2022 and (ii) 2023; and what were the principal countries of destination for those exports.

Nigel Huddleston: HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is responsible for the collection and publication of data on imports and exports of goods to and from the UK. HMRC releases this information monthly, as a National Statistic called the Overseas Trade in Goods Statistics (OTS), which is available via their dedicated website (www.uktradeinfo.com). From this website, it is possible to build your own data tables based upon bespoke search criteria. Classification codes (according to the Harmonised System) are available to assist you in accessing published trade statistics data in the UK Global Tariff. Goods moving to and from the UK are identified by an eight-digit commodity code. These are publicly available from the UK Trade Tariff at https://www.gov.uk/trade-tariff. The data on these exports and for other tobacco products can be obtained from www.uktradeinfo.com. If you need help or support in constructing a table from the data on uktradeinfo, please contact uktradeinfo@hmrc.gov.uk.

Electronic Cigarettes: Imports

Sir Christopher Chope: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the value of imports of (a) vapes and (b) vaping equipment was in (i) 2022 and (ii) 2023; and what proportion of the total value of those imports came from China.

Nigel Huddleston: HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is responsible for the collection and publication of data on imports and exports of goods to and from the UK. HMRC releases this information monthly, as a National Statistic called the Overseas Trade in Goods Statistics (OTS), which is available via their dedicated website (www.uktradeinfo.com). From this website, it is possible to build your own data tables based upon bespoke search criteria. Classification codes (according to the Harmonised System) are available to assist you in accessing published trade statistics data in the UK Global Tariff. Goods moving to and from the UK are identified by an eight-digit commodity code. These are publicly available from the UK Trade Tariff at https://www.gov.uk/trade-tariff. The data on the import for these items, including country of export can be obtained from www.uktradeinfo.com. If you need help or support in constructing a table from the data on uktradeinfo, please contact uktradeinfo@hmrc.gov.uk.

Mortgages: Warwick and Leamington

Matt Western: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the average cost of a mortgage was in Warwick and Leamington constituency in January (a) 2023 and (b) 2024.

Bim Afolami: There is a wide variety of data and statistics about the mortgage market in the UK available from the Bank of England (https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/statistics), the Financial Conduct Authority (https://www.fca.org.uk/data) and UK Finance (https://www.ukfinance.org.uk/data-and-research/data).

Revenue and Customs: Consultants

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much HM Revenue and Customs has spent on external consultancies in the last five years.

Nigel Huddleston: HMRC spend on consultancy is reported in HMRC Annual Report and Accounts published on GOV.UK. Consultancy spend for the last 5 five years can be accessed from these links:HMRC annual report and accounts: 2018 to 2019 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) HMRC Annual Report and Accounts 2018 to 2019 (Print). Page 128.HMRC annual report and accounts: 2019 to 2020 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) HMRC Annual Report and Accounts 2019 to 2020 (Print). Page 140.HMRC annual report and accounts: 2020 to 2021 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) HMRC Annual Report and Accounts 2020 to 2021 (Print). Page 171.HMRC annual report and accounts: 2021 to 2022 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) HMRC Annual Report and Accounts 2021 to 2022 (Print). Page 139.HMRC annual report and accounts: 2022 to 2023 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) HMRC Annual Report and Accounts 2018 to 2019 (Print). Page 140.

Home Care Services: Living Wage

Nadia Whittome: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment HMRC has made of the prevalence of underpayment of the National Living Wage for domiciliary care workers as a result of unpaid travel time.

Nigel Huddleston: HM Revenue and Customs enforces the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and National Living Wage (NLW) in line with the law and policy set out by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT). This involves a wide-ranging programme of education and risk led enforcement activity across the whole of the UK labour market and the associated risks including travel time. All businesses, irrespective of their size or business sector are responsible for paying the correct NMW rates to their staff.

Public Finance: Northern Ireland

Claire Hanna: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when his Department commenced negotiations with the Northern Ireland Minister of Finance on a new fiscal framework for Northern Ireland.

Claire Hanna: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his planned timetable is for agreeing a new fiscal framework for Northern Ireland.

Laura Trott: As committed to in the financial package for the restored Northern Ireland Executive, the UK Government will agree a Fiscal Framework with the Northern Ireland Executive which will outline Northern Ireland’s long-term funding arrangements. Since the restoration of the Northern Ireland Executive, constructive engagement on the Executive’s Fiscal Framework has taken place between HM Treasury and the Northern Ireland Department of Finance officials, and between myself and the Northern Ireland Finance Minister. My officials and I will continue this regular engagement to progress these negotiations at pace.

Oil: Imports

Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 24 April 2024 to Question 22821 on Oil: Imports, how many investigations have resulted in (a) criminal actions and (b) other sanctions.

Nigel Huddleston: Pursuant to the answer provided on 24 April 2024 to Question 22821, HM Revenue and Customs is responsible for enforcing and investigating export controls on strategic goods and sanctions and investigating potential breaches of those controls. HM Revenue and Customs’ enforcement outcomes will be published in the UK Strategic Export Controls Annual Report 2023. This will be available on the gov.uk website. This will include collated Compound Settlement details and Prosecutions for this period. HM Revenue and Customs does not comment on operational enforcement matters pertaining to specific import or export scenarios.

Childcare: Taxation

Claire Hanna: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answers of 17 April 2024 to Question 21426 and 24 April 2024 to Question 22418 on Childcare: Taxation, if he will make a (a) comparative assessment of the average cost of childcare (i) when the tax-free childcare cap was set and (ii) at 24 April 2024 and (b) impact of that change on the effectiveness of tax-free childcare in supporting parents with costs.

Laura Trott: For Tax-Free Childcare, the £2 Government top-up for every £8 parents pay in, and the £2,000 cap on Government support which can be claimed per year and per child, were set at these levels because the Government believes they strike the right balance between helping parents with their childcare costs, and managing the public finances in a responsible way. The Government keeps all aspects of childcare policy under review.

Home Care Services: Living Wage

Nadia Whittome: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many times HMRC has taken enforcement action against employers for the underpayment of national living wage for domiciliary care workers as a result of unpaid travel time in the last three years.

Nigel Huddleston: The government is determined that everyone who is entitled to the NMW receives it.HM Revenue and Customs enforces the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and National Living Wage (NLW) in line with the law and policy set out by the Department for Business and Trade. This involves a wide-ranging programme of education and risk led enforcement activity across the whole of UK labour market including social careHMRC consider all of the risks that might be relevant, when carrying out a review and record whether an employer is compliant or non-compliant.HMRC does not hold information on how many times HMRC has taken enforcement action against employers for the underpayment of national living wage for domiciliary care workers as a result of unpaid travel time.

Motor Vehicles: Insurance

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will hold discussions with insurance companies on trends in the level of car insurance premia.

Bim Afolami: Treasury Ministers and officials have regular meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors, including financial services firms, on an ongoing basis.     The Government does not prescribe the terms, conditions or price that insurance companies set when offering insurance. Insurers make commercial decisions about the pricing of insurance following their assessment of the relevant risks. The Government does not intervene in these decisions as this could damage competition in the market.The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is the independent regulator responsible for supervising the insurance industry. The FCA requires firms to ensure their products offer fair value (i.e. if the price a consumer pays for a product or service is reasonable compared to the overall benefits they can expect to receive). The FCA has been clear that it will be monitoring firms to ensure they are providing products that are fair value, and, where necessary, it will take action.

Sharing Economy: Taxation

Dame Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has received recent projections from the Office for Budget Responsibility on the potential impact of the model rules for reporting by platform operators with respect to sellers in the sharing and gig economy on (a) costs to HMRC and (b) tax revenues.

Nigel Huddleston: (a)Please see:https://obr.uk/download/policy-measures-database-6/?tmstv=1714126499  (b)Please see:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/autumn-statement-2023/autumn-statement-2023-html#policy-decisions

Sharing Economy: Taxation

Dame Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the model rules for reporting by platform operators with respect to sellers in the sharing and gig economy on (a) costs to HMRC and (b) tax revenues.

Nigel Huddleston: (a)Please see: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/reporting-rules-for-digital-platforms/reporting-rules-for-digital-platforms (b)Please see:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/autumn-statement-2023/autumn-statement-2023-html#policy-decisions

Offshore Industry: Taxation

Selaine Saxby: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent estimate he has made of the revenue that will be raised by the Energy Profits Levy by March 2029.

Gareth Davies: Forecasts for government revenues from oil and gas production, including for Energy Profits Levy, are provided by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). Their most recent published forecast, provided for Spring Budget 2024 on 6 March, is available on the OBR website at the following link https://obr.uk/efo/economic-and-fiscal-outlook-march-2024/.

Hybrid Vehicles: Fuels

Andy Carter: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has plans to introduce a specific advisory fuel rate for hybrid vehicles.

Gareth Davies: Advisory Fuel Rates apply when an employer reimburses an employee for business travel in a company car, or when an employee reimburses an employer for the cost of fuel used for private travel. Rates vary by engine size and fuel type and are reviewed quarterly. There are no current plans to introduce a specific advisory rate for hybrid vehicles. The Advisory Fuel Rates are not mandatory. Employers and employees can instead agree to reimburse different amounts, subject to certain tax conditions.

Ministry of Justice

Prison Officers: Vacancies

Ruth Cadbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many vacancies there were for band 3 prison officers in the Long Term High Security Estate - South at the start of each year from 2017 to 2023.

Edward Argar: Following a period of staffing challenges after the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen a substantial improvement in the national staffing picture within prisons. The number of Band 3-5 prison officers has increased by 1,634 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) between December 2022 - 2023, and resignation rates have fallen over the same period. This is the result of significant efforts across the agency, including substantial increases in pay for staff and launching our first-ever nationwide advertising campaign.   Table One below shows the number of indicative vacancies for Band 3 Prison Officers in the Long Term & High Security Estate (for prisons in the South) for January 2018, January 2019, January 2020, January 2021, January 2022 and January 2023. Data is not held for the period January 2017 and has not been provided. In reality, many establishments will routinely sit marginally below their Target Staffing level due to normal attrition and time to hire and so we would not expect establishments to run consistently at 100% staffing. Where prisons are not at their Target Staffing level, these are routinely supplemented (e.g., by using Payment Plus, a form of overtime) which is not accounted for in the indicative vacancy data provided. Use of detached duty, a long-standing mechanism to deploy staff from one prison or region to support another, is also not reflected in the data.  Table One: Total Band 3 Prison Officer Indicative Vacancies across Long Term & High Security Estate (LTHSE) South, January 2018 to January 2023 MonthIndicative vacancies (FTE)Jan-18104Jan-1914Jan-2062Jan-2186Jan-22127Jan-23323Notes All data is taken from Workforce Planning Tool returns and show the average position across January for each year, adjusted for joiners and leavers in the month.Workforce Planning Tool returns are manually completed by Prisons each month and, as with any manual returns, are subject to human error.Data shows average resource across the month, adjusted for joiners and leavers in the month.The Long Term & High Security Estate South includes: Belmarsh, Isle of Wight, Long Lartin, Swaleside, Whitemoor and Woodhill.Indicative vacancies are the difference between Target Staffing levels and Staff in Post at an individual establishment level. Where Staff in Post (FTE) exceeds Target Staffing (FTE) for an establishment, the number of indicative vacancies has been shown as 0 FTE. Indicative vacancies have been summed across establishments to give the number of indicative vacancies for LTHSE South.Target Staffing level is the number of staff required to run an optimal regime in each prison. This level is greater than the minimum number of staff required for a prison to operate safely, and includes allowances for staff taking leave, being off sick or being on training.The Target Staffing Figures are set on a site-specific basis and vary in size. Over the reporting period in question, Target Staffing levels for the LTHSE estate has increased which in part explains the increase in vacancies.Band 3 Prison Officers include 'Prison Officer - Band 3' and 'Prison Officer - Youth Justice Worker - Band 3'.Target Staffing levels are established based on a 39-hour working week. Staff in Post (FTE) is set at 1.0 FTE for those on a 39-hour contract / 1.05 FTE for those on a 41-hour contract and 0.95 FTE for those on a 37-hour contract.Target Staffing levels cannot be used to directly calculate vacancies due to the discretion governors have to change establishment level staffing requirements through Governors' Freedoms. As a result, the Ministry of Justice does not regularly present vacancy data and the data presented should be treated with caution.Staff in Post data used to calculate an indicative number of vacancies does not take into account those on long-term absences (e.g. career breaks / loans / secondments / agency staff or other forms of overtime).Where prisons are not at their Target Staffing level, these are routinely supplemented (e.g., by using Payment Plus, a form of overtime) which is not accounted for in the indicative vacancy data provided. Use of detached duty, a long-standing mechanism to deploy staff from one prison or region to support another, is also not reflected in the data.

Powers of Attorney: Fraud

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to tackle (a) fraud and (b) misuse of Lasting Power of Attorney.

Mike Freer: Under the Mental Capacity Act 2005, execution of a lasting power of attorney (LPA) must be witnessed and a certificate provider must confirm that the donor understands the powers they are conferring on their attorney or attorneys and is not being coerced to make the LPA. A mandatory 4-week period must elapse before registration, allowing time for objections to be raised prior to registration. Following consultation on ways to strengthen these protections, my department is working with the Office of the Public Guardian to implement a modernised LPA, facilitated by the Powers of Attorney Act 2023. The modernised LPA will introduce identity checks for donors and certificate providers to reduce the risk that an unknown party could obtain an LPA in another person’s name without their knowledge. The certificate provider will be required to be present at execution of the LPA by the donor and a more streamlined objection process will allow anyone to object, making it easier for potential abuses to be challenged earlier in the process. These measures collectively should reduce the risk of fraudulent LPAs and abuse of the powers they confer. Once the LPA is registered, any concerns about its use can be reported to the Office of the Public Guardian, which has authority to investigate. It can, if necessary, ask the court to remove the power for an attorney to act.

Powers of Attorney

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to require the Office of the Public Guardian to notify all nominated persons when a (a) power of attorney and (b) lasting power of attorney is made.

Mike Freer: General, otherwise known as ordinary, powers of attorney are governed by the Powers of Attorney Act 1971. They allow a donor to give power to an attorney to manage their affairs for a defined period of time. There is no requirement to name or notify nominated persons and the Public Guardian is not involved in the process. Powers of attorney are an important mechanism for supporting agency arrangements, often in a commercial context, and there are no plans to change this arrangement to require notification of nominated persons. Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs) are governed by the Mental Capacity Act 2005 which requires that any nominated persons are notified at the point when an application is made to the Office of the Public Guardian to register the LPA. An application to register an LPA can be made either by the donor or by one or more attorneys named in the LPA. Currently, it is the applicant’s responsibility to notify any nominated persons. The Public Guardian maintains a register of all registered LPAs and anyone can request a free search to check if there is a registered LPA for a relative or friend. The Powers of Attorney Act 2023, when implemented, will improve the process for notification and objections for LPAs. The Public Guardian will in future be responsible for issuing notices to the donor, their attorneys and any persons to be notified that the LPA has been received for registration and appears to be validly made. Furthermore, anyone who is aware that an LPA is being made will be able to object to its registration at an earlier stage in the process if they have concerns. These changes will strengthen the existing safeguards in the system.

Social Security Benefits: Appeals

Dame Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many appeals for all types of benefit case (a) are awaiting a hearing and (b) were awaiting a hearing on 22 April 2010 (i) nationally, (ii) by region, (iii) by Tribunal Office and (iv) by hearing venue.

Mike Freer: The table below sets out the number of appeals for all types of benefit awaiting a hearing (i) nationally, (ii) by region, and (iv) by hearing venue as at end of December 2023 (the latest period for which data are available). There is no separate data collated at (iii) Tribunal office level. Data for 22 April 2010 could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. All SSCS Benefits at December 231Region / VenueTotal Open CaseloadReady To ListListed For HearingLondon 1178561661401Bexleyheath630East London27151443349Enfield46204Fox Court57652996670Hatton Cross43617096Romford844516112Sutton19731018170Midlands1456979792084Birmingham32751668603Boston29919633Chesterfield64935984Coventry1146725102Derby1047618142Hereford1628125Kidderminster1939337Leicester1305700160Lincoln69342271Northampton73647687Nottingham1666906256Nuneaton1237213Shrewsbury51828367Stoke68137978Walsall49322686Wellingborough28016931Wolverhampton1058462180Worcester24514429North East (Leeds)638229031205Barnsley31412667Bradford1055542178Doncaster44819175Grimsby30013857Huddersfield36118Hull61532797Leeds957341193Scarborough24111153Sheffield1182554214Wakefield982473187York2528976North East (Newcastle)47752480807Bedlington2349565Berwick2094Darlington50225177Durham42521295Gateshead1164932Newcastle751284176North Shields2085663South Shields36117672Sunderland79248880Teesside1366860143North West1068657041635Barrow1086512Birkenhead44026457Blackburn40122569Blackpool545238105Bolton613303108Burnley37420046Bury100Carlisle25412542Chester62735881Lancaster157947Liverpool1640778234Manchester21591258331Preston31714370Rochdale636279127Runcorn100St Helens67637399Stockport977581129Wigan58132782Workington1799336Scotland1557411508Aberdeen892427Ayr1012040Campbeltown Centre200Dumfries (Cairndale)26213Dundee881822Dunfermline2776Edinburgh31592114Galashiels2898Glasgow489143155Greenock461015Hamilton1302634Inverness63924Kilmarnock722Kirkcaldy592219Kirkwall101Lerwick301Lewis302Oban623Stirling652219Stranraer421Wick512South East1222573691200Ashford930533102Basildon39920075Bedford36524333Brighton1250733109Cambridge45624461Chatham61643460Chelmsford70043464Eastbourne1358811Hastings31722123High Wycombe50929155Ipswich61940937Kings Lynn26913633Luton60536546Margate32219729Milton Keynes30917238Norwich99065787Oxford55135158Peterborough46724356Reading59335253Southend22010942Stevenage23913719Watford1364820109South West97825401823Unallocated 224715618Aldershot55530952Barnstaple122609Bournemouth1201Bristol19221090163Exeter38513255Gloucester71542154Havant105868463Newport IOW31922520Newton Abbot38319037Plymouth62330362Poole80141767Salisbury732012Southampton98259458Swindon53232235Taunton41021532Truro43515669Weymouth and Dorchester200Worle20610716Wales64713470675Aberystwyth824110Caernarfon1796426Cardiff26681455310Carmarthen1073620Haverfordwest1536820Langstone, Newport118170391Llandrindod Wells37218Llanelli200Llangefni28418025Port Talbot53123245Prestatyn41124731Swansea31714034Welshpool814614Wrexham43823741SSCS Regional Centre Not Known2942Grand Total782614188710340 From April 2023 the SSCS Tribunal started to list cases using a new Scheduling and Listing solution. This, alongside HMCTS migrating to a new Strategic Data Platform, has resulted in some cases heard and decided using this new listing solution not currently being included in the data above.1. Data pulled 24/4/20242. Unallocated relates to appeals that have not yet been allocated to a venue. Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that the data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when data are used. Management information reflects the data held on the case management system, which is subject to change, and can differ from the quality-assured MOJ official statistics, which form the agreed definitive position.

Prison and Probation Service: Corruption

Ruth Cadbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many police detectives are employed by the counter corruption unit in HM Prison and Probation Service.

Edward Argar: No Police Detectives are directly employed by HMPPS. HMPPS has, however, funded 20 dedicated Police Detectives employed in Police Regional Organised Crime Units, to support in the investigation of corruption within the organisation.

Prisons: Drugs

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of inmates in prisons were drug tested at least once in (a) 2022 and (b) 2023.

Edward Argar: The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. All prisons have a zero-tolerance approach to drugs. Our drug testing contract also enables us to deliver key commitments in the Cross-Government Drug Strategy such as: testing of offenders who receive a Drug Rehabilitation Requirement, the pilot of Intensive Supervision Courts and increased flexibility to test for a broader range of drugs. In addition, all prisons have been provided with access to forensic testing of items seized or found within the estate. Our £100 million Security Investment Programme completed in March 2022 and delivered 75 additional X-ray body scanners, supplying full coverage across the closed male estate. We have also installed 84 X-ray baggage scanners at 49 sites, drug detection machines and metal detection archways. Furthermore, we are taking steps to support individuals with substance misuse issues in prison. We have dramatically increased the number of incentivised substance-free living units (ISFLs), where prisoners commit to living drug-free with incentives and regular testing. 80 prisons now have an ISFL, up from 25 in summer 2022.

Department for Transport

P&O Ferries

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2024 to Question 18420, if he will have discussions with DP World on the solvency of P&O Ferries Limited.

Guy Opperman: The Secretary of State recently met DP World to discuss P&O Ferries’ commitment to the Seafarers’ Charter and its ambitions for its UK operations. The Secretary of State has not had discussions with DP World on the solvency of P&O Ferries Limited.

Railways: Ticket Offices

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of closing train ticket offices on (a) elderly and (b) disabled passengers.

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has held recent discussions with rail unions on the potential impact of ticket office closures on employment within the rail sector.

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to help support rail passengers who do not have access to digital ticketing, in the context of proposals to close ticket offices.

Huw Merriman: In October 2023, the Government communicated to the industry that no ticket offices should close following consultation when it became clear that industry-led proposals did not meet the high thresholds for service set by Ministers. The consultation raised several important issues which we are working with the industry on, including the modernisation of fares and ticketing and improving accessibility.

Roads: Accidents

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an estimate of the number of crashes identified as to have been caused by automatism in each of the last 10 years.

Guy Opperman: This information is not held by the Department.

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance his Department issues on best practice in tackling potholes.

Guy Opperman: To prevent potholes and other defects from forming in the first place, well-planned maintenance is vital, which is why the Department advocates a risk-based, whole life-cycle asset management approach to all aspects of the local highway network. There are various key bits of guidance that the Department recommends to local highway authorities, including a 2016 Code of Practice on Well Managed Highway Infrastructure, produced by the UK Roads Leadership Group and available via the website of the Chartered Institute for Highways and Transportation.Other guidance includes the 2019 “Potholes: a repair guide” on which the Department worked with the Association of Directors, for Environment, Economy, Planning and Transport (ADEPT), and which is on the ADEPT website. This recommends that local highway authorities should wherever possible make permanent rather than temporary repairs, with temporary repairs only appropriate in emergency circumstances or where safety cannot be managed using alternative approaches. To help local highway authorities to understand the impacts of the changing climate on local highway networks, the Department has published on gov.uk an independent report on the lessons learned from extreme weather-related emergencies over the period 2015 to 2020.

Official Cars

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 19 April 2024 to Question 21943 on Official Cars, which organisation holds the information for the total miles driven by vehicles in the Government Car Service fleet from the start of financial year 2022-23 onwards; and by what means hon. Members can seek to obtain that information.

Anthony Browne: The information for 2022/23 was provided in response to Question 21943 (838,113.00). As a result of changes to legacy IT systems, the information for 2023/24 would only be available at a disproportionate cost.

Department for Transport: Electronic Purchasing Card Solution

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to his Department's publication entitled DfT: spending over £500, December 2023, published on 25 April 2024, which Minister used Network Executive Ltd on 14 December 2023; and what the (a) location and (b) purpose of the visit was.

Anthony Browne: On 1st December 2023, Minister Opperman travelled to Barrow-in-Furness, the Grizebeck bypass, opened the A595 improvements and had further ministerial meetings in and around Carlisle. The invoice for this visit was paid on 14th December 2023. The Government Car Service is used wherever possible. On occasions, external companies are used for ministerial visits.

Northern Ireland: Air Routes

Claire Hanna: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of the number of commercial long haul (a) routes and (b) flights operating from airports in Northern Ireland.

Anthony Browne: Through their work to negotiate, update and enforce the UK’s extensive portfolio of bilateral and multilateral “Air Services Agreements” my officials seek to: maximise business opportunities and ensure a level playing field for our airlines and airports; minimise administrative and cost burdens for industry; and remove barriers to operational and commercial flexibility. This approach helps to deliver international connectivity, choice and value for money, benefitting businesses and consumers. The rights secured by my officials enable services to and from airports throughout the UK, but whether to exercise those rights is, of course, a commercial decision for airlines.

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

Cybersecurity: Offshoring

Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether her Department (a) has made an assessment of trends in the number of cyber-security roles off-shored to overseas contractors and (b) holds data on the (i) number of roles affected and (ii) financial value of that market.

Saqib Bhatti: The UK cyber security sector is worth £10.5 billion, up 3% since last year, and employs over 58,000 people, having generated an additional 5,300 jobs in the past year. The government's annual cyber security sectoral analysis shows employment in the UK cyber security sector has risen each year since the government began publishing the data in 2018.

Voice over Internet Protocol

Sir Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, when she expects the national communications awareness campaign on the switching off of the Public Switched Telephone Network to begin; and how long it will last for.

Julia Lopez: The telecoms industry is leading on developing a communications campaign which will be funded by industry and will focus on telecare users. My officials are working closely with industry, telecare providers and charities to support this. However, we cannot confirm when it will be launched as this is not a Government-led campaign. Separately, the department has published guidance on GOV.UK about the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) migration. This resource provides details about how consumers can prepare for the switchover and where they can find additional information. The webpage can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/uk-transition-from-analogue-to-digital-landlines.

Telemedicine

Sir Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, when she plans to publish the Telecare National Action Plan.

Sir Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will publish a list of meetings held by her Department with stakeholders on the Telecare National Action Plan.

Julia Lopez: The Department has now agreed a first version of the Telecare National Action Plan (TNAP) with the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC). The Plan is now being tested with key stakeholders including the telecoms sector, the telecare sector, and Ofcom, and we plan to publish it as soon as we are able. I do not propose to publish a list of meetings held by my department on the TNAP as this engagement is ongoing, but I can confirm that extensive discussions with stakeholders from the sectors outlined above is taking place.

Northern Ireland Office

Victims' Payments Scheme: Northern Ireland

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will take steps to ensure that the public are aware of the deadline for backdating an application to the Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme.

Chris Heaton-Harris: The Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme is due to close for new applications in August 2026. The Scheme is a devolved matter and communications are the responsibility of the Victims Payments Board. The Board have recently conducted a communications campaign to raise awareness of the scheme, including key milestones such as the closing date for new applications.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Arts: East Midlands

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to help support the growth of creative industries in (a) Lincolnshire and (b) the East Midlands.

Julia Lopez: The UK Government has a clear plan to grow the creative industries by a further £50 billion and support another 1 million jobs by 2030. This was set out in June 2023 in the Creative Industries Sector Vision, which was accompanied by £77 million of new funding to support the sector’s growth. This is on top of a range of tax reliefs introduced or expanded since 2010 covering film, television, animation, video games, orchestras, theatres and more.Creative Industries GVA grew at more than twice the rate of UK GVA between 2010 and 2022 (50.3% vs 21.5%), and helped support more than a million new jobs since 2010.Measures in the Sector Vision include the £28.4 million Create Growth Programme (CGP) to support high-growth creative businesses in twelve English regions outside London to scale up and become investment ready. The CGP is being delivered in twelve local area partnerships, including Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership in the East Midlands.It also includes £950k for the Creative Careers Programme, which raises young people’s awareness of creative careers and pathways by providing specialist advice and information through a range of industry-led engagement. It is delivered in regions around England, including the East Midlands (Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, Leicester and Leicestershire and Greater Lincolnshire).It includes £50 million announced for the second wave of the Creative Clusters Programme, designed to deliver innovation and R&D funding across the UK. This builds on the original £56 million programme initiated in 2018.The Arts Council England 2023-2026 Investment Programme is also investing £444 million each year into arts and culture in England and is providing around £22 million per year to cultural organisations in the East Midlands, including Lincolnshire.

Swimming Pools

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many publicly accessible (a) swimming pools and (b) lidos have been opened in each year since 2010.

Stuart Andrew: A total of 537 pools and lidos have opened since 2010. This figure does not include education ownership facilities such as school swimming pools. The breakdown of openings since 2010 is as follows:2010 - 4 lidos and 70 pools2011 - 4 lidos and 46 pools2012 - 4 lidos and 47 pools2013 - 3 lidos and 32 pools2014 - 1 lidos and 26 pools2015 - 3 lidos and 61 pools2016 - 3 lidos and 47 pools2017 - 0 lidos and 22 pools2018 - 2 lidos and 32 pools2019 - 3 lidos and 29 pools2020 - 0 lidos and 20 pools2021 - 0 lidos and 27 pools2022 - 2 lidos and 37 pools2023 - 3 lidos and 9 pools

Gaming Machines: Midlothian

Owen Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what information her Department holds on the number of fixed-odds betting terminals there were in Midlothian constituency in each of the last five years.

Stuart Andrew: Fixed-odds betting terminals refer to Category B2 gaming machines. In April 2019, the maximum stakes on these machines were reduced from £100 to £2. Following this reduction in maximum stakes there has been a dramatic decrease in the number of physical B2 machines in operation. The Gambling Commission’s industry statistics indicate that from April 2020 to March 2023 there were zero Category B2 gaming machines in operation across Great Britain.

Gambling: Midlothian

Owen Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what information her Department holds on the level of gambling addiction in Midlothian constituency in each of the last five years.

Stuart Andrew: DCMS does not hold data on the level of gambling-related harm for individual constituencies.

Football

Simon Jupp: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has had discussions with the Football Association on the recent decision to end FA Cup replays.

Stuart Andrew: The management of competitive programmes is a matter for the relevant National Governing Body which, in this instance, is the Football Association (FA), but clearly it is incumbent on the FA and Premier League to explain this decision and why it is in the interests of fans.We expect the FA and Premier League to consult with the English Football League (EFL) and other leagues further down the pyramid on moves such as this and reach agreements collectively.The Secretary of State and I regularly engage with national governing bodies, and I will shortly be meeting with the FA to discuss this, alongside a range of issues.

Scotland Office

Scotland Office: Domestic Visits

Owen Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will provide a list of ministerial visits to the Midlothian constituency in each of the last five years.

Mr Alister Jack: Scotland Office Ministers have conducted one visit to the constituency of Midlothian in the past five years. This was by Iain Stewart MP, while Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Scotland Office, to Midlothian Council Projects on 4 February 2022.